The cover of one of the bogus books, "Harry Potter and the Leopard-Walk-Up-to-Dragon," says it was printed by the Inner Mongolia Printing House, but an executive there said his company had nothing to do with the scam. Another book, "Harry Potter and the Golden Turtle," claims it was printed by the People's Literature Publishing House. The third book is called "Harry Potter and the Crystal Vase."

"But that's a fantasy!" Wang said.

An investigation indicated that more than one novelist was at work. In one of the fakes, Gandalf, the friendly wizard from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," pops up. In one, Harry and his classmate Hermione have a love affair. In another, Harry finds himself passing through places with Chinese names.

"The bogus books stink," said Simone, who commissioned a summary of one book. "They made Harry Potter look cheap."

Not only that, in one of the books, Harry, soaked by a "sweet-and-sour" rain, is transformed into a hairy troll.