itunes credit card fraud

THe programs that appeared on the reciepts sent to me were mostly for ipad and iphone apps and some in oriental only languages - just as PeninaD said happened to them. I do have an ipod touch, not an iphone or ipad. Does that seem like there is a regular serial fraudulent hacker out there to anyone else, rather than a one off hacker who got lucky with info?

Ok, so fraudulent transactions of CCs should be reported to the CC company, but where do Apple get off all responsibility for security and not following up reports of fraudulent use of their customer's accounts?

in the terms you agree to when you sign up for iTunes

if they have an interest in continuing this service, they need to look into the issue immediately, I was hacked for about 200 bucks worth of downloads, and have heard no response from Apple.

ChrisCA, You suggest taking credit card information out, after making purchases. Leaving your information in there should not even be an option given Apple must know by now there is a serious security issue affecting them.

I have contacted my CC company about this, and they are working on it, but make no mistake, this is Apple's fault. It is simply unjust if the CC companies wind up paying for Apple's mistake and failed security. My information is saved on several sites, and I have not been charged for anything other then itunes purchases, much like other people in this thread.

Basic point is, there is a serious issue with itunes security, this needs to be solved. If the banks wind up footing the bill on any significant level, there will likely be a lawsuit of significant proportion. To be honest, I am disgusted with how itunes has handled this.

also, I am reading people saying you have to contact your CC company etc... and apple is like every other retailer, but there is a difference between someone stealing your credit card and buying a bunch of stuff at best buy, and someone hacking through an ineffective security system that apple implemented specifically to protect you from this sort of activity.

It happened to me today 6/10/2010. Fortunately, I have it set up that whenever a charge is made to my credit card, I get an instant email advising me of the charge. I first got a charge for just over a $1, then two charges for $50 each. After calling the number that appears on the online statement for Apple and getting a recording that I need to go online for apple.com/support/cc and seeing that there was no helpful info, I contacted my credit card issuer, they immediately canceled the card and told me that once the payment authorizations post, I can dispute the charges and they normally issue a refund within 24 hours. I also changed my login password for itunes and immediately removed my credit card from the itunes account.

Just for kicks, I reviewed the two purchases and got the $50 gift card redemption codes later on in the day and fortunately, neither one was yet redeemed. So, I redeemed the codes to my own Itunes account and now have a $100 credit which I will use eventually. I am only out the $1 and change used for the one download that the credit card thief used to see if my card was valid.

I am still wondering how the thief got into my itunes account. I wonder if it's a rogue apple employee or if I have some type of keyboard logger on my Apple computer, although if that was the case, I buy so much online, that I am sure, my other cards would have been compromised by now.

shut down credit card and when thief uses it he will get caught

I think I figured out how they do it, It's very easy to get information about people via the web. People have a lot of information posted about themselves on facebook, myspace, etc. With very little info such as first and last name and a birthdate, you can easily get a ton of additional info on sites like peoplefinders.

Therefore, if you forget your password, you simply request a login to itunes by typing in your email address and answering a security question, such as "what is your mother's maiden name?" With all these info sites out on the web, this info could be found in a matter of seconds. Then once a thief is into your account, they simply check to make sure your payment method is valid by buying a song and then away they go.

The simple way to protect yourself is to use an email address and security question that isn't known to outside sources and don't keep a credit card on file. Changing passwords often is also recommended. You can also provide a false answer to the security question that wouldn't show up in databases. Keep the false answers in a private secure area that can't be found by an online hacker.

2 weeks ago, I received a replacement debit card from Bank of America. In the letter, they stated that “*+We learned that account information from certain Bank of America debit cards may have been compromised at an undisclosed third party location+*.” It was a direct replacement for a spare 2nd card that I rarely used and kept in my desk. My wife has and uses the primary card.

Just tonight, I tried to buy an iTunes app online and it said my cc info needed to be updated. Upon seeing the last 4 digits of the cc number on file, I realized it was the same card, so I had apparently used it to set up iTunes.

I never saw any fraudulent purchases, so *I think MY card was just one of many that the hackers owned just hadn’t gotten to trying out yet.* Which means this replacement card shows that Apple iTunes had quietly located the source and extent of the leak, and has/is taking the necessary steps to fix it.

Same thing happened to me 6-14-10.... small initial charge to test the waters $1.05 ..... then $1 ....then $19.... then I caught on and canceled the card.....

very disturbing.

not my buying pattern...... Chinese titles and ipad apps, movies.


Anyway, I thought I would mention one extra tidbit: the last app I downloaded, which directly preceded my problems was line2 for my iphone-just the demo( not to purchase) ....right after downloading that all the problems started : (

??

Apple better get on this!

Last night I had the pleasure of being a victim of itunes unsecure site.

Over a year ago I made the unfortunate decision to purchase a video on itunes and I have not been back since. The video was fine but I just normally don't purchase videos online. I even forgot I had an account on itunes.

I received four emails from itunes thanking me for my multiple purchases totaling almost $170.00.

When I tried to log into my account on itunes I received the message: "This Apple ID has been disabled for security reasons" which I found out by searching frequently asked questions that "This message means that someone was unable to sign in to this account multiple times.The Apple ID system will disable the account to prevent unauthorized people from gaining access to your information"

That's nice that they did this AFTER my account was hacked into. That right there should have given any moren with a brain the clue that something was going on.

When I made the purchase on itunes over a year ago, I was not aware that they were storing my CC information. If they are unable to keep their site secure and to keep hackers from accessing their site then they should not even offer the service to keep your CC information.

What really infuriates me is that when I was able to get into my account and remove my CC number, I noticed that there is also a box for my CC security code which was blank. My question is how was the hacker able to make multiple purchases through itunes onto my CC without giving my security code? The purchases should never have been able to be completed without that code and I place the blame squarely on itunes for not having a secure site and for allowing a purchase without the security code number.
Its sort of like the same scenario of if I had my CC stolen and it was used at a brick and morter store and the salesperson didn’t bother to ask for ID when the thief made a purchase or when the signatures don’t match. What’s the point of having security measures if no one is going to use them? At that point it also becomes the fault of the merchant for not taking security measures.

Yes, I have contacted my CC company and canceled my CC and I was told once the charges show up on my statement I can make a claim. However I should not have to go through this trouble of calling my CC company to dispute the charges, contacting companies that have my CC on file and letting them know it was canceled so they cannot use it to pay my monthly fees/bills and that I have to also contact them when my new CC shows up with the new numbers and all the other headaches that will go with this

Ramerac, I feel your pain! I was hit yesterday morning... HIT BAD! To the tune of $1,009 in charges of movies, apps, music, games, ringtones, etc.

My iTunes account was hacked and they purchased via Pay Pal which it was linked to. They got my balance in Pay Pal... they hit my bank account directly... then the backup credit card on file, which was my mothers.

It has been verified that Pay Pal was not directly accessed because there were no logins in the time frame of the theft (8 a.m.-11 a.m). They have deleted my billing agreements with them. All iTunes have done is disable my account, and tell me to have my banks contact them. Of course I can't do anything until it all clears. THEN I can file disputes. It disgusts me the breach in security through iTunes store! I have done all of my banking and had Pay Pal for YEARS and never had this happen! I am a very careful consumer. I don't know if I will ever use iTunes again!

Same experience for me today. My eyes have been opened as to how neglectful Apple is with security and allowing fraud to run rampant. Why dont they have a way to disable account?

I was the victim of some lousy ????? using my i tune account to purchase £230.00 worth of stuff using my debit card. It only came to light when I checked my bank and noticed all these pending transactions. On contacting my bank they informed me that it was from i tunes. I have only ever purchased 3 tunes one for 79p one for 59p and one for 9p. As I am not very technical with a laptop I cannot understand how can someone purchase music and whatever else it was they bought without it coming to my computer can anyone explain it to me. And will they be able to find out where that music has gone to

If you contact iTunes support they will disable your account, but you cannot update any apps or ANYTHING without it. There is no option to not put some kind of payment option in iTunes which ***** because I hardly ever buy anything other than an occassional .99 cent app.

So to update... Pay Pal got all the charges reversed for me. I am not waiting for them to hit my bank account which will take 3-5 business days. Then I will have to contact my bank to get them to reverse all of the overdraft fees. These criminals are sneaky! My iTunes account was disabled, but I had them reinstate it yesterday so I could DL the OS4 software and update some apps. When I went in to my billing info, I noticed the answer to my security question had been changed. So everytime I had tried to change my password, the theives were being able to reset it! I changed this immediately once I found it, to an all new security question and answer. Don't you know that a few hours later, I got an e-mail from Apple stating:

apple wrote:
Because too many invalid attempts have been made to answer your security questions, we were unable to reset the password for your Apple ID xxxxxxxx. The ability to reset your password has been temporarily disabled to protect the security of your account. You will be able to create a new password in eight hours.

If you believe you have received this email in error, or that an unauthorized person has attempted to access your account, don't worry — your account is still secure and no one has been given access to it.

I LOVE how it says not to worry! Those theives were trying hard to get back in to my account! They got in once, whose to say they cannot get in again?! Once my bank account crap is straigtened up and I have money I can access, I am getting an iTunes gift card for the payment option so they can't rob me blind!

There is no option to not put some kind of payment option in iTunes

Sure there is.
Select None under *Payment options*.