Just a heads up to anybody using HRK to buy or for their guveaways. Apparently either Steam or Twitter provides your phone number as part of their account link. HRK never requests a phone number as part of account creation, but has started spamming texts with advertisements. I received 5 texts in one hour advertising the same game at 17% off.

There appears to be no way to stop the texts short of closing your HRK account; support closed my tickets with no response when I requested no texts, and there is no account option regarding text communication.

If you get charged for texts (like I do), or the idea of texting repulses you, you may want to avoid HRK.

8 years ago

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That sounds absolutely despicable. I knew they were shady, but this is YET another level of low.

8 years ago
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So glad I stayed away from that site. Well what do you expect from a company whose name sounds like a 12 year old has come up with it?

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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8 years ago
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Sure, but then they can also sell your number that they've now mined to the highest bidder, similar to e-mail miners compiling lists and selling them to spammers.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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That doesn't stop anybody. At this point, the only way to stop it is to not supply the information in the first place.

8 years ago
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may be so.. but if i start recieving texts from them i'll first contact them and second if they dont stop menace with sueing them with a warning that any atempt of distributing my personal number would come with a new visit to court

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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The burden of proof for "HRK is spamming me" tends to be on the victim. "Uh wasn't us" is the usual reaction by companies that do this.

8 years ago
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Well, they've committed two illegal actions already, not sure why a third would be off the table now :P

8 years ago
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Which two anyway?

8 years ago
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it can be sold to anyone and everyone :p not just the highest bidder

8 years ago
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Can also report them, since it's illegal in the US to do what they're doing. :P

In October 2013, the Federal Telephone Consumers Protection Act made it illegal to contact an individual via cell phone without prior express written consent for all telephone calls using an automatic telephone dialing system or a prerecorded voice to deliver a telemarketing message to wireless numbers and residential lines. An existing business relationship does not provide an exception to this requirement.

(This applies to any form of communication, including SMS. Also, taking the phone number without permission counts as identity theft/privacy invasion to begin with. So yes, quite illegal.)

It's also a pain in the arse to set up blocks for texts for some service providers, I've found in the past. A fair number of them don't seem to filter them through usual call blocks, which are often a nuisance to set up to begin with.

Of course, regardless of what you can and can't do to counter the matter, and briefly ignoring how illegal the matter is, it doesn't magically make the fact that HRK is behaving like complete shits go away. :P

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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Well, Chinese game developers can commit what'd be fraud in the States, without fault, due to the laxer laws on such there, so you may be right.
Either way, international lawsuits are incredibly difficult to manage, so it may end up coming to the same conclusion.

It's no doubt why they've been able to continue their other illegal activities: they may not actually be illegal over there.

8 years ago
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This is also illegal in Germany.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_uwg/englisch_uwg.html#p0072 <- Should be in here.

8 years ago*
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Are you sure that they are German? I can't find anything about where they are from.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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Weird, I wonder if they've also founded their company in Germany.
There are several things about their website and company that would be (as far as I know) illegal in Germany (+stuff that they'd legally need to add to their website).

8 years ago*
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If you get spammed as a German citizen, you could appeal a request at www.bundesnetzagentur.de which can and will lead to expensive punishments (50 000 € up to 300 000 €) and the loss of that numbers.

http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/cln_1431/DE/Sachgebiete/Telekommunikation/Verbraucher/UnerlaubteTelefonwerbung/unerlaubtetelefonwerbung-node.html

8 years ago
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Nice. Way to go, Germany!

8 years ago
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If you get charged for texts (like I do)

What?! text messages are literally free for the service provider. Not an exaggeration, the actual cost is so low that they classify it as free. Where the hell do they charge somewhere for it? o.0

8 years ago
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Many providers in the US will allow you to remove "free texts" from your plan to reduce monthly cost. And there are still plenty of providers that use plans of "x texts per month free". I opted no free texts because I can't stand texting, both in practice and concept.

8 years ago
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same here

8 years ago
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It's funny though, because text messages are probably the most effective form of communication in regards of price and information value/packet. They even have less clutter than a mass email.

8 years ago
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Exactly, so higher profit margin. Why give something away for free when they can charge for it now that it's embedded into society?

8 years ago
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You people are strange.

8 years ago
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It was an analysis of capitalism. Personally I think it's a deplorable practice :P

8 years ago
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Same here. I actually disabled all data access. I sit at a computer all day-- I don't need the Internet on my phone. And when I do, I'm probably with my wife, who has an iPhone. But people don't understand why I can't use the Steam Mobile Authenticator. :-P

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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Yes, I am aware of it. I still don't fully trust it especially if something goes wrong, but I might end up using it sooner or later. Thanks.

8 years ago
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It's less buggy than the official Android client, that I can promise.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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In the US sending/receiving is usually identical in pricing, in my experience.
I know on my plan text messages count for a quarter minute off my monthly minutes each, either direction.

8 years ago
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The way i always took as if you did not open the text you do not get charged with one,the same as getting a call your minutes are not deducted till the moment you pick up.

Still does not excuse HRK from sending them if they are and why i always said sites like those are the plague.I am just saying if they are getting charged for merely someone sending them a text man that some shit as service.

8 years ago
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I think the being charged on opening thing depends on the provider. Mine downloads the text to phone right away and charges me right away, I'm reasonably sure [I don't get texts often enough to be certain of that, however].

As you say, it's inexusible regardless of specifics. And like everything G2A/HRK seems to do, it flagrantly flaunts their belief that they're above the law.

[Which, mind you, I can understand justifications for, for things like torrenting. There's instances where you can excuse such things.
But for 'I'm greedy and want to line my pockets and don't give a shit about anyone else', there's never any justification. ]

8 years ago
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Well i wish i could agree on the excuse for torrents but there is none.

The game is not available here is not a good reason.
I can not afford games is not a good reason.
I just want to try it out since they have no demos is not a good reason anymore since even Steam now has refunds even if it is kinda shitty.
They are greedy fucks and do not deserve my money is not a good reason,if they do not deserve your money you do not deserve there game.

And the one that cracks me up most and how people hide behind old laws that have not changed since god knows when to catch up better with digital is....

It is not stealing as you are not depriving anyone of a physical item.

Anyhow until Steam is really forced to change support is always going to remain broke and broken promises of it being fixed Gaben has admitted a few times support is terrible and they are working on it.If they mean by adding lame refund policy as improving it then i guess they have succeeded.

8 years ago
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:blink:
I only torrent when I've purchased the game [through Steam, it's always on Steam that this happens] and it doesn't work, and I need a working copy.
Steam aside, I know a lot of Ubisoft customers have to do that, due to Uplay DRM so-frequently breaking games.

So no, I'm going to have to disagree with your viewpoint.

Also, there's been rare times where developers have encouraged torrenting, after a publisher screwed them. There's been times where it's a matter of censorship- if you have bought a German copy of a game, for example, do you have a right to download an uncensored version? And what of your right to utilize products as you see fit, so long as it's for personal use? Should the fact that companies have bribed legislation in recent years to use extremely lax variations on service laws for digital goods instead of product laws be taken at face value, or do you think there's cause to argue that they're products and ought be treated as such?

There's plenty, plenty of circumstances where torrenting is potentially justifiable, that have nothing to do with people being self-entitled douchecanoes :P

But yes, all the examples you provided wouldn't apply.. for the most part.
>The game is not available here is not a good reason:
Yes, it is. Download the game, then mail the company a check. Censorship is hard to justify (and you can argue you've been given a defective copy :P)

>I can not afford games is not a good reason:
Actually, studies show there's justification for playing games for neurological development or emotional stability purposes. For a time, this point seemed mildly justifiable, with the right circumstances. The incredible explosion of freely available, easily accessible games has completely removed any justification for this one, however.

>I just want to try it out since they have no demos is not a good reason anymore since even Steam now has refunds even if it is kinda shitty:
You covered this one well :)

>They are greedy fucks and do not deserve my money is not a good reason,if they do not deserve your money you do not deserve there game:
This one is still potentially justifiable. For example, Activision sabotaged Troika games, leading them to bankruptcy, and is now pocketing 100% of the proceeds from their games.
I can definitely see justifying not wanting to support a publisher like that, and there's no longer any way to support the developer directly.

>It is not stealing as you are not depriving anyone of a physical item.
This. :P
But right, that one was never in any way remotely justifiable.
Though it is worth noting that you have rights to use physical goods as you see fit, so long as it's for personal use [ex, scanning and making copies of a painting you own to cover your house in artwork of the same design].
For a while, digital goods used product law, but due to corporations strong-arming and bribing legislation, not only do they fall under service law, they fall under a very lax variation of it.
For the time being you can still legally backup/modify products you own, or use the 'faulty product' excuse to download a copy of a game you own, but if that sort of political manipulation continues, who knows how long we'll still retain those rights.

Of course, like most of the examples I gave above, owning the product [or making payment to equivalent effect] is pretty key for any sort of justification.

Anything past that tends to be pretty limited circumstance [like the Activation thing] or clearly (no longer) justifiable.

8 years ago*
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In the US, at least, calls and texts cost the same whether you are calling or receiving. So spammers can cost you money.

8 years ago
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The actual fuck. You are soooooooooo getting ripped off. And I thought European roaming fees were customer skinning until the EU finally completely forced them to remove it.

8 years ago
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It's the U.S. Of course we're getting ripped off, it's what we do.

..not even joking.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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Yeah. 2 people on a phone call, both are paying "minutes" for that call. Person A sends SMS to person B, each gets charged with 1 SMS, so phone company gets paid for 2 messages in that case.

Now, most people have plans that give them "unlimited" minutes or texts or data, for some set monthly price, and often calls or texts within the same carrier will be free, but the baseline is that everyone gets charged for everything unless they pay for the more expensive plans.

8 years ago
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I am in the .U.S. and i only get charged the text i open not ones people send me but i ignore,i only get deducted the moment i view the text.

If your phone auto checks or opens them then you will get charged and i suspect that is what is happening to people.Also if someone calls you but you do not answer you do not get charged any minutes though most i suspect have unlimited minutes so it would not matter either way.

Same with old payphones if nobody picked up you got your money back but the moment the call was answered even if less then a minute it kept your money.

So if spammers are costing you money then maybe it is time to re-think your service.

8 years ago
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in the U.S. cell phone recipients pay. both for texts and for receiving calls

8 years ago
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They charge texts here and most of my country communicates via text message and with about $10 you get around 470 text messages. Imagine how much the people pay in a month. Most phone owners are on prepaid SIMs too.

8 years ago
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Charging for sending texts is normal – after all, you are paying to send information. I am shocked by the fact that they make you pay to receive the texts as well. 0.0

8 years ago
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Oh receive? There are situations where they do it. Hell they even make us pay for using a service provider's services like something as simple as balance checking.

8 years ago
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Pretty much one of reasons i don't use keyshops. Every month there is some keyshop related bullshit, people rage for a bit, then get back to using them, and after a month or so i have some new dose of delicious drama.

8 years ago
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HRK = G2A...so what could go wrong? fishy

8 years ago
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It was confirmed that they only use G2A's payment system, but actually not the same company. Strange, but apparently true. Suspicious, though.

8 years ago
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I've been told it's because they're part of the G2A "network"-
Orly is the same way, they supposedly have their own developer team, but they're apparently part of the network.
Orly is a few cuts above the rest so far, however. :X

8 years ago
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That's what i've been told too.

Orly at least i know the owner so i can trust on him/his website.

8 years ago
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Oh, it occurs to me.
If you know the owner, maybe you can give him a heads up:
The 'Can you please whitelist us on adblock? No?' popups are cute and all, but there's no way I'm using Orly without adblock on, for one fundamental, crucial reason:
Youtube crashes my modem, and for some inexplicable reason Orly wants to be all "My first webpage" with including auto-play media.

Forget my specific circumstances, it's dickish and unprofessional (which is why most webpages created past the 90s stopped doing it). :P

If they stopped being jerks to us on that- which I use adblock to prevent- then by all means, I'd certainly consider turning it off. :X

8 years ago
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Yup. Their Whitelist messages annoyed me too. I had to close that message, at least, a dozen time. Nowadays, adverts are so intrusive that I never bother using any browser without an AdBlock and I'm not going to stop just because they show me some Cat meme pics.

8 years ago
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Oh, you can add those pop-ups to your ad-block filters if they really bother you.
But yeah, I'm willing to unblock on any site I want to support, if the site owners are willing to take the time to make sure their ads are non-intrusive, non-offensive, and not going to cause me technical or malware problems.

Too many site owners would rather complain at length about how they're entitled to our attentions, than actually put effort into their ads. It's.. ugly business.

It's really simple:

  1. Use a reliable ad source that checks for malware and offensive content.
  2. Use proper web design expectations (ie, don't use things like intrusive ads or auto-play media) and make sure your web code is formatted correctly.
  3. There is no 3. As I said, it's really simple.

I've had one individual here on SG complain at length about how he was entitled to his broken, problem-causing advertisements and user donations and so forth as an obligation for using his [very subpar quality] site, rather than spend that time he spent whining on actually paying any mind to bug/quality reports he was given.

So, combine the nonsensical viewpoint most non-professional site owners have on the matter, with the risk of damaging our computers with malware, with the general unfriendlyness of interface and often noticably longer load times, and really, why would we disable ad-block?

I certainly try whenever possible, but sites that are "worthy" of such are rare (or don't use ads to begin with) :P

8 years ago*
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You can sue them, at least here based on the LOPD it's illegal to send you any kind of communication without your explicit consent.

8 years ago
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Or maybe you agreed to it while signing up in the TOS that most people do bother with.

Either way it is pointless to even bother suing them as the fines are not that much and they will just pay them and move on.That how bill collectors get away with the things they do,they pay the fines and move on.

I do know HRK is run in the U.S. so good luck trying to sue over text even if you did and won they would just pay the fine and move on.Seems they also own 4 other domains which i can only assume are more sites like this?

8 years ago*
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I see, they still are held accountant to the laws of the places they operate on right? Tho, good luck with that.

Moreover they should provide a clear option to op out of that service or to delete all your personal information from their files.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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This.

8 years ago
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Other than a first-hand account? I suppose not. But let me put it like this - When you register for their site, you have to bind a Steam account using Steam's OpenID authenticator, which provides personal, identifiable information. When you register for their "free giveaways", you have to connect with your Twitter account, which provides personal, identifiable information (this is why every F2P mobile game requires FB or G+, to get your information for their use, which allows them to sidestep multiple consumer protection laws under the auspices of "consensual providence"). I never once personally provided HRK a phone number, but have to both Steam and Twitter, then began receiving text spam directly from HRK.

In all likelihood, it's not Steam providing the information, but Twitter. But without knowing the absolute extent of Steam's providence with OpenID, I can't say for certain which would be the source.

8 years ago
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8 years ago
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8 years ago
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You can see the permissions you are giving when you use these authentication methods.

It's impossible to get a phone # from Twitter, let alone Steam (which only verifies who you are, only steamID shared).

8 years ago
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Not surprised if true. HRK is part of G2A. Want anything more trustworthy than that?
lol, only an idiot would give them any useful info.

8 years ago
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HRK IS Related to G2A , so .... yeah .
Avoid like the plague .

8 years ago
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I have been buying and getting freebies from HRK ever since they started. No text messages here.

8 years ago
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Is there a way to "unsuscribe" your number from them?
(I think they got the number from twitter >:o )

8 years ago*
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Steam doesn't provide any information about the user that way. Twitter states what permissions and data are provided to the app you're connecting to.

8 years ago
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This is great, I had someone telling me "what's the worry with Steam having your phone number" not long ago here.

8 years ago
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Read the topic, this person gave HRK their number voluntarily. Steam OpenID doesn't share anything except your SteamID, and Twitter via OAuth can potentially share some information if you expressly give permission, but not a phone number.

8 years ago
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That's good to know, however, one of the most important rules of the Internet is that you don't share data they don't strictly need, because they can't leak, sell or lose to a hack data they don't have.

(Or at least it should be)

8 years ago
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well I didnt got any text messages so far, so I guess im safe, lol

still, very shady

8 years ago
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Questions:

  1. How do you close an account?

  2. I forgot my username, what do i do?

  3. I gave them my steam, so will they have my number :(

8 years ago
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Thank you for the heads up.

8 years ago
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I've been getting their message for the last 2 (or was it 3?) months now. Why I have never bothered with it is because it is my work phone and I never even open my messages. I just don't use it. Everything is using WhatsApp these days :P

8 years ago
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Thats the reason why you shouldn't share sensible details (like a tel number) not mindlessy with any App or Website which asks you about. Twitter hasn't this information of mine and Steam neighter. Android 6 has AppPermissions. (do they work good?) Android4+ user can root their phones and install Xprivacy.

I'll continue to use HRK :)

8 years ago*
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