Harry Potter Email Phishing Scam

Fans eager to snatch up the latest Harry Potter novel are being tricked into giving crooks their credit card and banking information by a devious email phishing scheme.

J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter author, cautioned fans to be on the lookout for Internet con artists selling electronic copies of her latest work. In reality, they don't have an electronic copy of her latest wizard saga and only want to take your bank and credit card details for nefarious use.

This "phishing" scam is based on requesting banking info from Harry Potter fans in exchange for an electronic copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (which was published on July 16, 2006).

Rowling's Warning to Her Fans

Rowling's lawyers were able to close down a fake website that was selling her latest novel in electronic form. However, other deceptive websites still remain. So, Rowling continued to plead her message of not falling for any of these rip-offs. She's concerned this won't be the last time scammers try to fake out her fans.

It's obvious that the con artists working this scam will go to great lengths to try and get your personal information.

Make online purchases through retailers you trust

Your best bet for safe transactions on the internet is to use online retailers known to you and that you trust with your credit card information. Remember that some phishing scams involve building sites that mimic the design of well known retailers, so either type in the web address yourself or be alert for irregularities.

More Phishing Scam Information: