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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

Feb 14, 2012 9:34 PM in response to stereocourier

I was just hacked too... My account is linked to my PayPal that's linked to my checking and they got in twice a few days ago one for 20 somethings bucks and the other for 3o bucks. I e-mailed Apple. Apple Support refunded me $55 within minutes last night - said they reset my password which is not true. I reset my iTunes password before I sent the e-mail to Apple. Then tonight I got an e-mail from PayPal showing another debit $21.90. Amazing. Now I reset my PayPal security questions and password AND my Itunes password. Not very happy at this point. Scared crapless actually. What is this monkey business? The 3 transactions show on my PayPal account but not in my iTunes window in the iTunes Store. How is that possible. I'm going to give this 24 hours. If it happens again I guess I'm cancelling PayPal for sure. What a joke. 😢

Nov 14, 2012 8:08 PM in response to 669

Just want to say that apple was amazing for me. I noticed 2 charges on my online banking statement for over 40 dollars stating that they were iTunes purchases. I logged on to my iTunes account and it showed no recent purchases. I called apple ( when the recording asks why you are calling, just say fraud). I immediately talked to someone and he said someone would email me back within 24 hours. Well less than 3 hours later I received an email letting me know that they looked into it and have refunded the charges. Amazing service from apple!

Dec 6, 2010 7:54 AM in response to elcarmean

Hi
Same thing has happened to me - $42 worth of credit from a gift card wiped out, and address changed to 1905 60th Place, Towson, MD, 21286-7840 with phone number (365) 8542658
I have deauthorised all computers on my itunes account (there were 5 authorised - only ever had 4 before I THINK) and changed my password.
Emailed Apple - waiting for a response.

Why would hackers bother changing the postal address? Strange.

Dec 18, 2010 7:52 PM in response to mattyk72

Same thing happened to me in last three days. Got an email from apple saying my credit card info changed, which was weird. It actually was deleted from my account. Then 4 apps were purchased using $10 credit that I had. I notified apple, they refunded, and now the itunes store says I can't use my credit card. No Towson address change, though.

Dec 20, 2010 4:02 PM in response to stereocourier

Had very similar thing too. Got £25 giftcard. Added it to my account but hadn't spent it. Couple of days later I get an email saying my Name and Credit Card details had been changed, and two receipts for £11.99 in app purchases that certainly were not mine. Credit Card details were wiped, and I became a Mr instead of a Ms.
iTunes support were very helpful in giving me my money back, but I feel Apple are ignoring the bigger picture, that there is a massive scam going on and they need to do something about it fast. How many people are going to load giftcards on Christmas day and see them disappear?

iTunes store account hacked

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