stereocourier
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 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 3:45 PM

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stereocourier

Q: iTunes store account hacked

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  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 7:38 AM in response to irok
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:38 AM in response to irok

    Do what your credit card agreement says.

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 7:41 AM in response to BeagleBabe
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:41 AM in response to BeagleBabe

    I did not  say close down every persons account... your business account... everytime a claim is made.

    BeagleBabe wrote:

     

    No, obviously I wouldn't be able to close down every person's account, but I would do everything that was in my power, on my end. If that meant calling banks, switching CC merchants, etc. I would. If that meant accepting accountability and realizing there is a flaw in my system, somewhere, I would. I wouldn't keep saying "Oh, that happened to you? Huh." I'd find the problem and the solution. I value each and every one of my customers.

  • by irok,

    irok irok Apr 25, 2012 7:43 AM in response to Carlo TD
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:43 AM in response to Carlo TD

    I don't think you read my question....I don't think it is my CC....but my question was will I be linked to a fraudulent purchase?

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 7:42 AM in response to glamourbomb
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:42 AM in response to glamourbomb

    Follow the instructions in your credit card agreement.

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 7:43 AM in response to irok
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:43 AM in response to irok

    I am sorry... some how I double posted.

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 7:47 AM in response to irok
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:47 AM in response to irok

    irok wrote:

     

    I was hacked yesterday.

    I first got an email saying my CC and shipping/billing address had been changed.

    They logged in and purchased 2 $50 itunes cards (which have been redeemed).

    They erased my CC info which was very old as I don't use this account anymore.

    They used my name and email as shipping info and put in an address in Vertmont.

    The receipt I received has the last 4 digits of the CC they used, I don't remeber (but may have) ever having a CC with those numbers. As I said I haven't used that account in years.

    Called Apple, they said someone had probably used my account with a stolen CC.

    My question, obviously I can't do anything to track the CC if they used a stolen one and I won't be charged for the purchase, BUT will somehow I be now linked to a stolen CC?

    And if so what the hack I am supposed to do????

    Use Apple's express lane... they will get back to you very promplty https://expresslane.apple.com/Symptoms.do

  • by irok,

    irok irok Apr 25, 2012 7:51 AM in response to Carlo TD
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 7:51 AM in response to Carlo TD

    I did, they just said that someone probably used a fake CC.

    That doesn't help me, if I am now linked to a crime, will this come back to bite me (with the law)?

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 8:20 AM in response to irok
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 8:20 AM in response to irok

    I do not know how to respond to you. I think iTunes is a seperate issue entirely. There are web sites that offer free credit reports.

  • by irok,

    irok irok Apr 25, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Carlo TD
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Carlo TD

    It's fine, I think what they did was use my account to put in the stolen CC info (name, number etc) then delete it when they were done. This saved them opening an iTunes account (would get caught easier).

    My name would not be associated with anything.

  • by Juege,

    Juege Juege Apr 25, 2012 9:33 AM in response to tjschaeffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 9:33 AM in response to tjschaeffer

    my account got hacked to, this morning when someone downloaded an album of classical Chinese music. Hard to reach Apple - they don't have a fraud department for I-tunes. I was told to use Expressline, however, when I called Apple support, that system was down.........it *****!

  • by neepy93,

    neepy93 neepy93 Apr 25, 2012 10:49 AM in response to stereocourier
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 10:49 AM in response to stereocourier

    Send an email to apple and they should refund you, i got a full refund when i got hacked!

  • by Linj,

    Linj Linj Apr 25, 2012 11:18 AM in response to Juege
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 11:18 AM in response to Juege

    After FIVE days I finally got to speak with Ryan from iTunes security dept.  his response... I need to understand this is a new dept (iTunes  phone security customer support) and I need to give them time to become functional AND I  need to understand they have limited resources!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Great answer.  So I ask all of u you who  have iTunes security issues and fraudulent charges to sit down now and pray for POOR APPLE who does not have the resources for timely/adequate security customer support AND to be patient after years and years and years of iTunes accounts and profits you need to give them time to become functional. 

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 11:22 AM in response to Linj
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 11:22 AM in response to Linj

    Were you that facetious when you spoke to him?

  • by transmogrification,

    transmogrification transmogrification Apr 25, 2012 11:27 AM in response to Leksluthah
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 11:27 AM in response to Leksluthah

    "It aggrivates me most that I had to seriously hunt to find a web page to attempt to contact Apple about this."

     

    Seriously? Go to www.apple.com and scroll to the bottom.  It's right there. "Contact US". In fact every Apple web page has this at the bottom. Reading is fundimntal.

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Apr 25, 2012 11:29 AM in response to transmogrification
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Apr 25, 2012 11:29 AM in response to transmogrification

    Reading is fundimntal.

     

    I totally agree... and this is not just true for everyone as adults, it is also true (and starts with) children learning all subjects, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts.

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