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iTunes store account hacked

I'm posting this just to share my story and get reactions. It's a little detailed but I thought worth sharing.

On November 23, 2010 I purchased a single song from the iTunes store for .99. I used store credit that I had from a gift card I received last year. It was the first purchase I had made since July 2010.

On November 25, 2010 I received a receipt for 2 more separate orders to my account. These were for over $50 in iPhones apps. Here's a sampling of some of the purchases:

1 eREAD isoshu, v1.5, Seller: ChengDu YueTong Internet Information Co. Ltd (17+)
2 Plants vs. Zombies, v1.3, Seller: PopCap Games, Inc. (iDP)
3 Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge, v1.1, Seller: Lucasfilm International Services Inc.
4 Asphalt 5, v1.2.6, Seller: Gameloft (9+)
5 Let's Golf!® 2, v1.0.1, Seller: Gameloft (4+)
6 Frames & FX for Photos, v2.5.1, Seller: Imikimi, LLC (12+)
7 Stenches: A Zombie Tale of Trenches, v1.0.1, Seller: Thunder Game Works (9+)

I do not have a credit card linked to my account, so these were made using my store credit.

I have only 1 computer authorized for my account (my personal home computer). I live alone and no one else touches my Powerbook but me. I also DO NOT own an iPhone, so I would have no interest in apps.

After I saw these bizarre purchases, I checked my account. I noticed 2 strange things: My account information had changed: My street address was correct, but city, state and zip had changed to: Towson, MD 21286-7840. I have never lived in Maryland. Also, I noticed that my password recovery answer had changed to "Murray" in response to a question about my mother's maiden name. That's decidedly NOT my mother's maiden name. Also, my birthdate had changed to an incorrect month and day.

I immediately changed my password and my recovery question/answer challenge.

I reported problems on all of these purchases and also contacted iTunes Account Support by e-mail.

Within 24 hours I received an e-mail from "Vicki" at iTunes Customer Support. She wrote:

"When reviewing over your account "name@domain.net" and the two reported orders, it shows that the content purchased within them was acquired from the computer that is currently authorized for your iTunes account. So I strongly advise that you do consult with those in your household regarding the purchases made, and the charges that resulted from those purchases."

Further:

"I have gone and reversed the charges for the two orders....You will see a store credit in three to five business days....Please note that this is a one-time exception, as the iTunes Store Terms and Conditions state that all sales are final."

I am pleased that Apple is refunding my store credit and replied so quickly.

However, it is simply impossible that these purchases were made from my computer. Again, my Powerbook is the only computer I have ever authorized to access my account, and I am the only person with access to it.

I am not sure how this happened. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 28, 2010 3:43 PM

Reply
1,958 replies

Dec 23, 2012 10:03 PM in response to whooosh12

I can now be added to this. Some **creature** somehow got a hold of my debit card (it isn't on file with Itunes) and went and spent some $$$$ on, from what I see, apps. I noticed the transactions on my bank statement. No other weird or unauthorized transactions, just those from the Apple Itunes Store.


I emailed Apple to tell them and I actually got a reply. They asked for the amounts that were deducted from my account and then said they would refund it back to me. Funny thing was that apparently my Itunes account was not touched, they just somehow got my card details and went from there using another account(?).


Since then they have disabled any Apple account my card has been linked with and have put a hold on the card that was used. Mind you, I have not EVER used my card in the Itunes store. Once and only once did i use it when I had to purchase a software upgrade from the online store.


Unfortunately, my inital gut feeling was there is something going on internally, if you catch my drift. But I do not want to point the finger as there are too many dodgy people using the internet for this stuff.


I wasn't too worried about the money, it was probably a small amount compared to some on here, I still want it back of course, but i am a bit concerned about how much of my details they have accessed; name, address, etc. I have told my bank and they have closed the card that was used and the associated account to it and set up a new one.


Forgive my ignorance, (I have never had this happen to me before), is this supposed to be reported to the Police? Because from what I have read online and how many times this has happened, it doesn't look like it has/would do much. I guess for personal identity concerns it would/could be reported?

I did go into the police station today and ask somebody who was working there about it. She said because of the small amount it would only be minor and not to worry too much about it. Unfortunately, she was not a member of the police, just a volunteer working the front desk, so I am not sure if I should go by her word or not.


What have you guys/girls done?

Dec 25, 2012 2:23 PM in response to iGeeksPro

I'm sorry. I don't know what you could do right now. It's such horrible timing too because nothing can be done as it's the Christmas period for most of us. Get on the phone to them a.s.a.p. though. It looks as though this is nothing new to them.


This really is starting to annoy me. This system is beginning to look more and more flawed everyday.

Dec 25, 2012 3:04 PM in response to MadMacs0

Hmmm. Unfortunate. I'm guessing i live in a different country to you. I have called a customer service line before and have also been given a number to call by somebody who works there to discuss this. I only emailed as i knew it was the xmas break, and thought it would be nice to have a "solution" in email rather than me trying to remember everything that was said. I guess i was lucky that my email was responded to so quickly.

iTunes store account hacked

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