Spoiler alert! Four episodes of Game of Thrones Season 5 leaked online

Though the new season of Game of Thrones was to premiere on April 12 on HBO, fans may now get a early viewing on the internet, that too of four episodes, for which viewers generally have to wait for a week per episode.

The first four episodes of much awaited series, Game Of Thrones' fifth season have been leaked online.

Though the new season was to premiere on April 12 on HBO, fans may now get a early viewing on the internet, that too of four episodes, for which viewers generally have to wait for a week per episode, the Verge reported.

The leaked copies, with the quality of around 480p, are available on torrent with fans scrambling to download them illegally.

This isn't the first time the show has faced something like this, as recently a trailer for season 5 had leaked ahead of its official debut.

Actor-Kit-Harrington-arrives-for-the-world-premiere-of-the-television-fantasy-drama-Game-of-Thrones-series-5-at-The-Tower-of-London-March-18-2015-Photo-Reuters

In a statement, HBO said, "Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of Game of Thrones originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them. We're actively assessing how this breach occurred."

The season four finale was illegally downloaded eight million times, according to file-sharing news site TorrentFreak.

According to data released by Irdeto, an anti-piracy solutions service, India ranks 10th in the list of countries illegally downloading the epic fantasy show. GoT's illegal downloads from India have increased by 155% from 2014 -- the sharpest rise among the top ten.

Read: Struggles of an Indian Game of Thrones fan

Read: Everything you wanted to know about Game of Thrones