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DownloadNova.com Complaints - Online scam

Review all DownloadNova.com complaints

DownloadNova.com

Posted: 2008-07-21 by Freddy Fry [send email]

Online scam

Complaint Rating:

Company information:
DownloadNova.com
United States
downloadnova.com

I inquired as to whether the site had a piece of software I was looking for. The site claimed to have this software. During the joining the process I was told that the site processed Credit Card details through an 'Adult' web site but that this was a one time charge of $5.95 USD. Immediately on joining I searched for the software and discovered that the site did NOT have the software I was looking for. I immediately contacted them through their website (no phone or email contact - just a contact via their help page!!) to terminate the membership.

Since then I have received monthly charges amounting to $100 USD each month from organizations calling themselves DVDPAS; DWTUBE; RPPASS and VIATY. These charges have been placed direct to my credit card from organizations I know nothing about.

It also appears that my email address has been provided to a number of internet spamming organizations and I am now receiving pornographic e-mails. I have made repeated requests to have this terminated without any response from the organization.

Comments

United States

Unauthorized Charges

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More DownloadNova.com complaints

DownloadNova.com - Scammers

DownloadNova.com - Unauthorized credit card use

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DownloadNova.com - Fraud and unauthorized credit card charges

DownloadNova.com - FRAUD

Comments

136 days ago by Charles [send email]

I was also ripped off by this site. As you said, they claim you need only pay a small fee around 5 dollars to one of their sponsors, and you then have access for life to their file collection, which they claim is extensive. What happens is that you find out that their search engine will indeed come up with just about whatever you are looking for, but when you click-to-download, the files aren't there. This site is actually part of a much larger web-affiliate structure that uses RapidShare file sharing service - which, by the way you have to pay for separately - but they all lead you to the same fraudulent company and its insane monthly charges that can go as high as one hundred dollars a month whether you use it or not. I should note that RapidShare itself doesn't appear to be fraudulent, and there are many sites that use their proprietary file sharing technology and are free if you simply register with your email address. But be warned, you will likely get plenty of SPAM. Finally, RapidShare as an alternative to the relative safeness of Bittorrent sites isn't terrible, but also is rather redundant. If you seek files, stick with safer choices like Bittorrent or newsgroups. Avoid any pay-for-download sites such as DownloadNova.com like the plague or you will regret it!!! I was very lucky that my bank refunded my money without much hassle, but you probably won't be so lucky unless you bank with a large national bank.

136 days ago by Mike Malta [send email]
I think you can cancel your membership to the adult sites and keep your membership to downloadnova (it says so on their faq) or it worked for me anywyas I still have access even after canceling the account with the adult site (i think it was milfriders or something). Hope this helps somebody.

135 days ago by Krisztian Palmai [send email]
I dont't know yet if I have been ripped off or not by our dear friend downloadnova, but they sent me no confirmation about my payment and are not answering my emails... be careful! I also find it rather difficult to cancel my membership. is there anyone who managed to do this?

135 days ago by Steven Drake [send email]
You can just cancel your subscription to the adult sites. I emailed their support girls from www.customersupporthelp.com and it worked without problem. She cancelled all my adult subscriptions.

127 days ago by Freddy Knudsen [send email]
I dont know what happened, but again their has been taken money from my bank account. What is the reason, I don, t want to be a member off anything. So Please, take me from your's members, and don't take any more money from me.

124 days ago by Randy In Oakland [send email]
Thank you all for your posts! I'm glad I did a Google on this outfit before I signed up. The porn sign up procedure is way too fishy. Isn't there supposed to be some sort of age warning to keep minors from signing up?

121 days ago by Sani [send email]
This DownloadNOVA is phish!!! I have also been 'conned' by this website. Like every unfortunate peeple who have subscribed (with $5 initial payment and $40-100 'credited' from unknown and bizzare company names!) and want to un-subscribe (before my money starts to shrink!), I need some advice and how to do about it. Many thanks.

121 days ago by Paul M [send email]

To answer your question 'Sani', it seems the only thing is to cancel your credit card and ask the bank for a replacement to be sent which will have a different card number.

I also was a sucker for this. I tried all the various billing sites to cancel the 3 day trial without success. It's deliberately set up like a maze and if you notice the similar layout of certain pages from 'different' billing companies it's evident that they are all part of the same con.

In my email confirmation for the 3 day trial it said the biller was 'VIATY SL'. So i went to their website to cancel. However even though they seemingly present the cancelling of the subscription as an easy-as-pie procedure when you enter your details it simply says 'No record of account found'. All of these billing sites say this, however from reading many emails from people who have fallen victim to this farce they obviously miraculously 'find' your details just in time to put through a recurring monthly $39.55 charge (a couple of times over sometimes by the looks of things).

I emailed about 6 addresses with a load of crap about my dad being a lawyer in the city and how he was preparing to take immediate legal action- I got 2 replies. One saying it didn't recognize my details (what a shock) and another from a different company called '365 billing' (who weren't even mentioned as having anything to do with my trial!) saying that the account will be closed down and my membership cancelled.

I don't think i can take the risk on this email and i've read (earlier in this thread i think) that they still bill you despite an email to confirm cancellation.

As i type this nothing has been taken from my card except the initial $5 trial charge but my 3 day trial is due up tomorrow. So about an hour ago i withdrew a couple of hundred in cash to keep me going. I'm about to call my bank to close/cancel my card and request a new one so they none of these companies can get a penny.

I am from Ireland and live in the UK and I have to say that firstly, this is obviously such a terrible rip-off that it enrages me, but more importantly that i am totally flabbergasted that these people are seemingly being able to get away with it.

If this kind of hoax was operating out of the UK they would be caught and prosecuted. I am sure of that. How on earth are they allowed to do this without punishment in America?!?
It's baffling, can anyone tell me how this is possible???

It's enraging and i honestly hope the people who run these things die a horrible death (sorry but i really do), but i guess the best we can hope for is karma.

Long live the good man.

121 days ago by David R [send email]

It seems that this lesson needs teaching every couple of years. Do not give you credit card details over the internet to any unknown sites.

The issuing bank (name on the card) should be notified. The badge owner, Visa, Master Card, JCB etc. should also be notified. They do not like their badges associated with scams. It's not good for business.

I you send the company a copy of your statement they will be able to trace the acquirer. (The merchant who takes the payment).

The merchant will almost certainly be in a foreign country such as Israel or Bulgaria. The merchant only gets paid after a delay of about 5 weeks which allows the credit card and the badge companies time to take action. Your account will still be debited but it should be reversed in about two months. If fraud is proven the merchant is struck off. Your evidence should help with the proof.

If everybody did this these guys would only last about two weeks at best.

As for downloadnova, warez and all the other pay to steal sites, why use them. I know they advertise having files that no one else has but surely that in itself should make you highly suspicious.

119 days ago by Marty [send email]
was about to sign up to this site until i read your comments but changed my mind, i'm glad i looked around first. it pleases me no end that there are peolpe out there who let you know about scam web sites keep up the good work all of you. to those who have been caught out do as David R says don't use your card on unknown sites

119 days ago by Sani [send email]

Paul
Many thanks for advice!
I think too much buying things online nowadays makes giving out credit particulars like a norm process. You tend to forget that internet requires a high level of trustworth'iness' process (in in-tangible way) just like what David R's alert and reminder on facing unknown sites.

Me 2 cents worth of strategies on 'interacting' with unknown sites:
1. Always get to know and associate yourself with unknown sites first B4 doing business
2. Type the name of unknown sites together with words like 'scam', 'fraud' or anything that represents negative aura/circumstance. This may help in terms of getting 2nd, 3rd, 4th or even 5th opinion before you decide to use credit card
3. Do not give out your 'digital' money easily - although I know and realise that it is sooooo easy to use credit to buy things online cos in the long run, it helps out a lot of other things too (cheaper price, cost effective, saving time, hassle-free, no driving so no carbon emission done on that day, etc)

Hmmpph! I feel much better now.

Need to go to bank and cancel me credit card. Thanks to DownloadNova, you have wasted 10hrs of my quality time (and my money)

117 days ago by Justanotherpunter [send email]
Thanks. Saved me from joining up.

117 days ago by Rg [send email]
i'll add my thanks. i found this thread before handing over a card number. and at least i used a secondary email address for the initial "membership", so i'll escape most of the spam. appreciating expressed for the warning. i just got a bad feeling when a credit card was asked for and thought to check the 'net for complaints.

116 days ago by Hatescammers [send email]
If I didnt hand over my card number and only gave them my email, they cant charge me for anything right ? I will probably get alot of spam as u guys said but they cant charge me of something stupid? Sorry for my bad english :)

115 days ago by Italo De Maria [send email]
I wonder that in the USA is this possible to have such fraudolent site. I was a victim too.

114 days ago by Meredith [send email]

Man, I feel like such a moron! I signed up a few days ago and never got a confirmation email, so I kept using their ridiculous "contact support" section... now I know to just go with my gut feelings on these things. My account was charged the $5 startup fee and then, today, the $40 monthly fee (which was never mentioned)... that's when I decided to look into it and found this. My card will be canceled immediately.

At least I know I'm not alone in my stupidity, and I'll be boatloads more wary in the future. I'm just glad I wasn't charged even more.

113 days ago by Chicky [send email]
Thanks! I'm glad I searched before downloading. I wasn't familiar with this site and thought I'd google before giving my details.

112 days ago by Marcel [send email]
Thanks for the information. ALWAYS check a site on fraud/scam/spam in google. All these tips are very helpful and 'll save you lots of problems. Luckily they only have my e-mail address. What's the world coming to lately - can't believe that this site is still up and running!!! Be careful.

112 days ago by Kori [send email]
Thanks for the Info..I nearly subscribed...Every single site like this one if fraudlent too then...I think that an 1 year rapidshare premium + membership on a few forums is a much better choice...