Scammers send 'Hadopi' emails

FAKE emails purporting to be from anti-internet piracy body Hadopi and demanding recipients pay them “fines” are being sent out by crooks.

Hadopi itself has not even sent its first warning email, though it is said to be “imminent”, but already criminals are taking advantage of the scheme, said Hadopi boss Eric Walter.

Mr Walter said during an internet chat on the website of the newspaper La Tribune that the real Hadopi emails will never ask for bank or credit card details or ask for payments.

Nor will they ask for any personal information, he added. Furthermore Hadopi e-mails will be “personalised” to you, not generic.

Hadopi will not fine people directly if they are found to have made illegal downloads of copyrighted material.

Instead it will send out warnings by email and then recorded delivery letter, if there are repeat offences.

As a final sanction it will refer the matter to a judge, who will be able to order a period of internet suspension and a fine.