There's an Associated Press story today(8 ar '04 where the Federal Trade Commission is being urged to probe music sites that we have been discussing in this thread by a group called the Center for Democracy and Technology. Thanks,however,for posting a tidy list of these rogue sites.

I too am ashamed to admit that I fell prey to the site mp3downloadhq site. I have learned a valuable lesson, and can only hope that one day these people will be stopped!

My question is this: I paid for my 'wonderful' membership via PayPal on my credit card. I am concerned about whether or not this scam of a company will be able to charge my account once again afterwards. I assume that since I have gone through PayPal and used a credit card, I am safe - but is there any way to be sure?

I do not consider myself to be green, but I can tell you that I am sickened to think that I have fallen prey to this garbage. I will be extremely careful in the future.....

If it's too late to cancel the transaction thru your bank/credit card company, then contact them anyway & inform them this is a scam site & that you want to prevent any future possible chance of them re-charging you. Some scam sites do charge monthly or yearly. Most banks/credit co.'s do have some type of special dept. dealing with these matters. So if you've reported them there will be a record & hopefully they can do as you request. Another point would be to go back to the original site & see if there is a cancel membership option. Generally this would be found under support or membership pages. It will most likely be in very fine print.

I was also scammed for 38.95. I was very confused when I downloaded the software and saw the screens abou lime wire pro ... thought if they are trying to get me to upgrade why did i pay 38.95.

The site was http://www.limewire-downloading.com/...&gtkw=limewire

it has only been about an hour since I was scammed and I am now inundated with junk mail ...

Here's another thing I would like to know - and maybe this has already been asked and answered....HOW is it that these companies (mp3downloadhq, etc etc etc and so on forever and ever) are legally operating!?!? It seems to me, that what they are advertising is CLEARLY not what they are selling! Isn't that fraud? Isn't that illegal? Now, I'm sure that they have their loophole, but I would really like to know what it is.

One thing I can say is that from reading this forum, I have learned a great deal, and definitely know what to avoid in the future - I thank you all for that.

Well, if they do it legally is uncertain--see http://p2pnet.net/story/4150 for more. However, this snip probably shows WHY it's so quick, easy and profitable. By the time the "laws" can get going, the sites have moved, changed their names, or just gone laughing all the way to their tax shelters I guess $100,000 is just too much to resist, and is probably easier with less risk than robbing a bank.

Well I too fell for the membership scam at http://www.limewire-downloading.net/ I signed up for the .99 per month, but when I got the email showing what I was charged it was 34.95, and the itemization didn't quite make sense. I'm going to check into this with my credit card company etc. I guess that's what I get for being in a rush, as I was the day I fell for this. Just when you think you're too smart to be scammed you get suckered... oh well, live and learn.

I won't even read the entire contents of this lengthy thread, but I ask you:

Why would it be necessary to purchase software that is promoting illegal file distributing? Nobody should have to pay for P2P software...

What about thedownloadplace.com?
I accidentally paid twice, so have been scammed twice...do I have any chance of getting my money back?