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JANUARY 9, 2005 at 9:22 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
A web site purporting to offer electronic versions of all five Harry Potter novels by JK Rowling, including the unreleased sixth book, has sprung up and is advertising online to fans through search engines and ad-supported sites like HPANA. We have received numerous e-mails about this issue in the past several days.
DO NOT place any orders with a site claiming to sell such rubbish. It should be noted that there are no authorized electronic text versions of the Potter books, period. The sixth, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is to be released July 16.
The Leaky Cauldron reported
yesterday that after submitting an order on the site -- which will remain unnamed -- a message was returned stating that credit card processing was unsuccessful (after card numbers were already collected and presumably stored).
HPANA has contacted the site's web host to inform them of the illegal nature of their client's site. Rowling and/or her representatives have no doubt already been alerted to the situation. It's highly likely we'll hear something official very soon, in the form of a message from Jo on her web site, or through one of her representatives.
UPDATE: According to BBC News the web site in question has been closed down.
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226-249
Belladonna
Points: 5373
Kaliedra says:
I think its a sad state this world is coming to. People preying on unsuspecting people like this. I'm sure they did get people with this, I only hope they're able to get retribution for it. I know alot of people are now getting those debit visa cards that work from the checking account and there's no fraud protection on alot of those unlike a credit card. Glad to hear this was caught before it got too out of control.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 10:58 AM EST
Magical Experimentalist
Points: 6699
Preet says:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!The biggest joke of my
life. This is sooooo stupid. They are definately bluffing.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 11:32 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1688
Woodfan says:
Man, some people will do anything when they don't have a real job.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 11:32 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
Caesar says:
Through this tasteless ploy we can see the rather scary side of the human race. Their motto: "If the slippers fit, wear it, for God's sake!" It doesn't matter to them if the slippers are illegal, the opportunity's there! To exploit! For them! I agree with Kaliedra and Woodfan. This is a sorry situation.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 11:36 AM EST
Brightest Witch
Points: 3111
hermione_rox. says:
Wow, I am glad I didn't see those ads- not that I would have ordered anything anyway...I am not allowed- I don't have a card and I am under 18. That is very horrible- scaming people like that! I hope the people are caught and something official happens!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 11:38 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1052
ginny_c29 says:
This it's sad i can't believe what people do just for money.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 11:40 AM EST
Witch
Points: 556
hpbri says:
How Evil! I can't beleive people would even fall for that, well at least i wouldn't.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 11:40 AM EST
Student
Points: 202
Potterfan77 says:
I hate to hear things like this. It's just a bad as people stealing the books and burning them. I hope they get caught soon.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:12 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 95
Kady'heart'Draco says:
Its a shame that people are making money from HP fans that would have seen the EBook message and got really excited.
Shame on those cruel people!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:20 PM EST
Ravenclaw Ambassador
Points: 3243
Nevar says:
Well, I'm just glad they didn't get away with it for very long, that would've been horrible. I hope they are stopped for good and no one else is scammed.
N
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:31 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 44
mudbloods_rule says:
That is soo horrid how can people do stuff like that but i suppose that anyone who falls 4 that can't be a very big fan!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:33 PM EST
Gryffindor Ghost
Points: 9860
Professor Cat says:
Hmmm.....
I read somewhere offereing this!
Only thing is....i cant remember where!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:38 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 405
DracoLover says:
Thats so horrible that people would try to scam others. At least they caught the scam before a lot of people paid these horrid people. I really hope they catch whoever is responsible.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 12:39 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1682
*Ginny* says:
I can't believe anyone would set up something that cruel but then again, people should know by now not to give out important details etc on the net!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:38 PM EST
You Know Who
Points: 3006
Hurry Patter says:
Nothing extraordinary really except that they were the first known to do it for HBP. With a popular and much anticipated title like HBP, expect more like this to happen. :( There are people who wants to take advantage of opportunities.
Once HBP is out expect another kind of internet happening to occur - one which JKR and her publishers will not look too kindly at.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:50 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2857
Oliver Wood is Fit says:
People can be so wicked. That is the problem with the internet - anonymity and the ease with whic illegal activities can go on. Still, most of us are honest, upstanding net users, and sites like this help promote that.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:52 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1147
Spirits*of*Fire says:
I honestly have no idea why someone would buy it anyway. Not to be rude but whenever has JKR sold her books online? I mean yes the people that were trying to sell this crap are scum, no doubt, but people really should be more careful when spending money --- especially online. There's been so much in the news about identity theft. Unfortunately this scum has already made a profit of their cheating.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 1:58 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 411
iamfelix says:
This is absolutely deplorable and I CAN believe that people would fall for this because as some people as said earlier People would do anyhthing for Harry Potter. This is the reason why Scams fool so many people , Kinda like the get rich Quick scams because people lack patience ...
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 2:07 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 581
HP biggest fan says:
What kind of an idiot tries to do that sort of rubish? How do you get electronic books? He must be stupid trying to sell the sixth book when it isn't out yet.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 2:14 PM EST
Parselmouth
Points: 29083
Thestral Eyes says:
Ahh, shame there asre people out there doing illegeal things and preying on unsuspecting harry potter fans *shakes heaD* but to be fair, i would have thought pople would have realised it was a con from the start with them claiming to have the 6ht book *scratches head* bit dense of them realy.
Realy glad they have been closed down, wounder if they got away with the money though and if theyve been prosecuted?
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 2:16 PM EST
Student
Points: 227
ObsessedFan says:
That's really terrible that people have to resort to illegal actions to get money, or whatever it is they want. I hope it doesn't happen for the seventh book as well.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:08 PM EST
Witch
Points: 707
*HP*4*ever* says:
I hope nobody started to believe them, because people should know that only Jo can be trusted in such things.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:09 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1098
LilyP says:
This kind of thing always ticks me off. I can't believe there are people out there that are so heartless to take advantage of us HP Wackos. I hope no one got taken. I hope people are smart enought to realize that this can't be, when JKR herself has made it VERY clear as to when the book will be released.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:14 PM EST
Legilimens
Points: 3013
Extendable Ears says:
Unbelievable! I hope that no one took too much notice of these awful people taking advantage of fan excitement over the book 6! They ought to be ashamed. It reminds me of the tsunami donation scams I've also been hearing about. People are too quick to make a quick buck at somebody else's loss. Tsk tsk!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:40 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
That's really stupid. And furthermore, who would fall for such things? Anyone should know how easy it is for people to make internet scams.
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:43 PM EST
Witch
Points: 654
Millennia says:
People will do anyhting to make a buck!
Posted Jan 10, 2005 at 3:52 PM EST
226-249
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