|
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.
Reader Comments (249)
click to read...
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2010 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-249
Mischief Manager
Points: 9193
judyqeen says:
They will be caught, but unfortunately they will probably have already scammed many people.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:34 PM EST
Wizengamot Member
Points: 3231
Jencameby says:
This is a sad state of affairs, when there are so many scams out there. Thanks for alerting us, I hope no one got scamed on this. I wonder what JKR will say?
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:36 PM EST
Witch
(Moderator)
Points: 719
Jessica Lares says:
I'm glad I never heard about it! What's even sad about it is the review they have posted. It's the one from the official press release. "This book is available now in electronic variant only. If you do not wish to wait for 6 months more, buy and start reading right now!Be the first to reveal all the secrets!" Baah, what a bunch of liars! How can fans be so clumsy? The site was created FOUR DAYS AGO! What next, "Buy Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVD for $9.99 online today and get it the following day!"?
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:36 PM EST
Witch
Points: 518
tonks06 says:
That is terrible! I hope they are caught soon. Hopefully they didn't scam a lot of people..but they probably did since people will do anything for more HP.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:37 PM EST
Lady of the Rings
Points: 4117
Padfoot4387 says:
Why do people do stuff like this? And it's obviously a scam; I don't know how someone would have thought that the HBP e-book was a form of the real thing; it hasn't even yet been published yet!
Thinking about HBP makes me want it so badly...
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:38 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1600
jenn007a says:
I hate it when people try to scam things just ecause they know it is so popular, like harry potter. Anyone should know its a scam though since HBP is not published yet.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:43 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5294
GodricsGirl says:
Puh-lease!
Did anyone actually fall for this?
Like there was even a chance of this being for real.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:48 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 418
Tonks85 says:
The nerve of people trying to pray off our excitement!
Well they must think potter fans are gulible. Hmphf. Don't anybody buy it!
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:50 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3348
Frito says:
I must ask, why would anyone fall for this? Harry Potter is copyrighted by scholastic, bloomsbury, etc. This site had no connection what so ever. We must wait until July 16th.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:51 PM EST
Student
Points: 233
honnieb810 says:
People should be more careful!
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:54 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 450
MS.PHOENIX says:
This is so horrible. The things people will do to make a buck! I'm glad that it's been brought to our attention! I hope they get caught! Thank you HPANA for keeping us well informed!
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1805
Swimangel57 says:
I hadn't planned on ordering my book through anyone but Barnes and Noble and I certainly know not to try and get it early, but thanks for letting us all know! It is very useful information to have because those ads do look very tempting!! Thanks again!
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:57 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
DanielzWifey says:
Oh my God!! i cant believe people would do such a thing!! thank god they were stopped!!! and people should know before they order that because why would jo want people to have access to the 6th book when it offically comes out july 16th.. i mean people whould really use their common sense!!!
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 9:58 PM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4499
PowerGranger says:
Just because most people recognize a scam when they see one doesn't make it OK for scammers like this to give it a try and for us to say "so what?" I commend HPANA and the other HP sites calling attention to this. It's a good reminder that illegal acts such as this will not just be shrugged off.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:03 PM EST
Points: 3723
emma'shockeyplayer says:
That is a perfect example of why my family does not buy things through computer... you go to the place you want to buy it from and get it... sure it might take lobnger but your not chancing to lose money or be in a scam.....
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:04 PM EST
Vader's Veela
Points: 3858
seekerfan says:
Awful scam. Though, I think the the diehard Potter fans wouldn't be fooled by this. I'm sure more than one poor person did.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2624
ravenmadluna says:
Wow, thats horrible :( the things people do for money makes me sad, it would mostly be kids who would go on that site and beg thier parents to let them get it, and then be ripped off. so sad.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:10 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
HAHA i was gonna say...
i mean DUUUUUH HBP isnt even out yet, WHY WOULD THERE BE AN ELECTRONIC VERSION.
come on people.
yeah and people who are stoopid enough to go on and pre-order one...*shakes head*
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:12 PM EST
Dark Arts Professor
Points: 3747
Ivy St.Claire says:
I noticed that ad running at the top of the HPANA web site. I figured it was a scam of some sort, but I wasn't sure how....
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:14 PM EST
Student
Points: 235
Celedora says:
The Leaky Cauldron said that they're people tried to purchase it just to see what it was, and it said that the site couldn't charge the credit card after it had already taken their personal information. So, anyone who has fallen victim to this should notify their credit card company about the possible scam so they can be on the lookout for suspicious activity on the card.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:18 PM EST
Auror
Points: 5908
GryffindorHermione says:
It's awful that some people choose to take advantage of the fans. I was looking on ebay yesterday, and somebody was selling complete 6 book sets, and saying they had it availible now. It was bid up to about 100 dollars, too. The truly sad thing is, lot of people have probably already bought these.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:22 PM EST
The Faerie Queene
Points: 3278
merri maven says:
those behind the scam are horrible. i'm pretty sure that they have already made a lot of money from HP fans who do not check up on HP news each day. i hope that the authorities will find these people.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 935
fizzingwhizbees says:
thats why id ont trust buying things online and one of the reasons i do not have a credit card...i Hope they go down for this.
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:38 PM EST
Witch
Points: 526
shortfrancine says:
Sick! That is just sick! I hope no one falls for this rubbish! What kind of people would do such a thing?? Tsk Tsk...
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:45 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 340
magiviking says:
People that do stuff like that just give Harry Potter and all his fans a bad name. Why do people need to steal? They obviously have brains, or they couldn't trick people, so why don't they put them to better use?
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 10:52 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1619
DurmStrang says:
Hmmm, ok. wow that was a complete waste of time. I mean why even risk it?
Posted Jan 9, 2005 at 11:18 PM EST
226-249
Back to top of page