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 transmogrification,

    transmogrification transmogrification Jun 1, 2012 2:50 PM in response to kevmortensen
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 2:50 PM in response to kevmortensen

    This link to a prior discussion might get you in the right direction:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/17229278#17229278

     

    I hope this helps. If not, you can look here:

     

    http://www.apple.com/contact/

  • by kevmortensen,

    kevmortensen kevmortensen Jun 1, 2012 2:58 PM in response to transmogrification
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 2:58 PM in response to transmogrification

    Thank you Transmogrification. I will give that a shot. I appreciate your help.

  • by trinansw3,

    trinansw3 trinansw3 Jun 1, 2012 3:43 PM in response to kevmortensen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 3:43 PM in response to kevmortensen

    Good luck contacting apple, i went through the contact section and got reply telling me there is no way my itunes account could have been hacked.... and to see my bank... hmm guess what!! after shutting my account down now have new account... i will never put my credit card details on itunes ever again.. i go to the super market and purchase itune gift cards, enter the digits into required feild and whalah.. credit to spend and no chance of someone in Guam africa draining my credid card

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Jun 1, 2012 5:44 PM in response to trinansw3
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 5:44 PM in response to trinansw3

    trinansw3 wrote:

     

    go to the super market and purchase itune gift cards, enter the digits into required feild and whalah.. credit to spend and no chance of someone in Guam africa draining my credid card

    True, this will certainly limit your exposure, but if you've followed this thread from the beginning the majority of the folks that have been hit were using gift cards that were either forgeries or had been otherwise compromised and were quickly emptied immediately after first use.

  • by iMasterus,

    iMasterus iMasterus Jun 2, 2012 4:35 AM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 2, 2012 4:35 AM in response to MadMacs0

    Got the same issue today. I bought 50 usd gift card month ago. Today it's gone from my account. Contacted Apple support and are waiting for the answer.

  • by Cyparisse,

    Cyparisse Cyparisse Jun 3, 2012 2:25 PM in response to stereocourier
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 2:25 PM in response to stereocourier

    My account was just hacked into this weekend. Amazing this has happened to so many people for the past however many months with no one from Apple changing anything to make sure it doesn't happen again. What is also amazing is that no one has sued Apple for this **** happening to so many people and with really no way of it not happening again. I have changed my ID and password, but with no way of actually being able to delete it alltogether and make all new ones, the hackers knowing things that I don't now like security questions (which also can't be changed), will just do this again. I am venting just as you all are, and something must be able to get done to fix this.

     

    This is the most ridiculous setup I have ever seen! I have never gotten any of my other accounts hacked into and it has never been so hard to delete or change ANYTHING as it has for my Apple account. My mother is a lawyer. Maybe I will start a mass lawsuit with these ******** for breaching their so called privacy policies and security settings, or lack thereof! They can't save any of us from getting our accounts hacked into and they aren't doing anything different to help it from not happening again!

  • by TunesFan,

    TunesFan TunesFan Jun 3, 2012 2:57 PM in response to Cyparisse
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 2:57 PM in response to Cyparisse

    Hi. You can delete your account by clicking "contact us" on the bottom right of this page and emailing iTunes; it's really not that hard. You can also read the terms to see if by chance there is a section about canceling.

     

    You can change your account info just as easily by going to appleid.apple.com and signing in; if that's too difficult, use the contact us link and ask them to do it for you.

     

    I think it's hilarious that people who can't even figure out how to use their own accounts have the balls to blame apple when thier account gets ripped.......good luck with your lawsuit.

  • by TunesFan,

    TunesFan TunesFan Jun 3, 2012 2:59 PM in response to trinansw3
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 2:59 PM in response to trinansw3

    Did someone make purchases using your iTunes account? If not, then your iTunes account didn't get hacked.

  • by Cyparisse,

    Cyparisse Cyparisse Jun 3, 2012 3:21 PM in response to TunesFan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 3:21 PM in response to TunesFan

    Yes they did. They bought under my iTunes, they changed my information in iTunes, as well as my Apple ID and other info. I am not an idiot. I am not a computer whiz, but I am not an idiot.

  • by Carlo TD,

    Carlo TD Carlo TD Jun 3, 2012 3:30 PM in response to Cyparisse
    Level 3 (558 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 3:30 PM in response to Cyparisse

    You sound argumentative and far from being a computer wiz.

  • by Cyparisse,

    Cyparisse Cyparisse Jun 3, 2012 3:53 PM in response to Carlo TD
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 3:53 PM in response to Carlo TD

     

     

    Carlo TD wrote:

     

    You sound argumentative and far from being a computer wiz.

     

     

    Listen, forums are for receiving help and for people to express their concerns and frustrations. Not for a-holes to start fights and put others down for feeling or saying what's on their minds. When I feel attacked, I will be argumentative. I think most people would be.

     

    As for your attempt at putting me down, it means sh*t to me really. You don't say anything of value, and haven't throughout the forum.

  • by mjames007,

    mjames007 mjames007 Jun 4, 2012 4:21 PM in response to stereocourier
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 4:21 PM in response to stereocourier

    I like may others had my iTunes account hacked over this past weekend but in my case, they were able to also obtain my credit card information on file with iTunes.

    I have a separate credit card specifically for iTunes use, so I have definitely not given the information to anyone else.

    Fortunately, the credit card company contacted me suspecting fraudulent transactions, starting with an iTunes charge but which quickly escalating to much higher charges for other independent transactions and they canceled my card.

    This is clearly an iTunes or even worse, an Apple ID security breach, which could have even greater consequences, given the push to use iCloud.

     

    Time this was esclated to the 'media'.

  • by transmogrification,

    transmogrification transmogrification Jun 4, 2012 4:41 PM in response to Cyparisse
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 4:41 PM in response to Cyparisse

    Isn't being "argumentative" starting or contributing to a fight? I think we all can agree that it is counterproductive to being helpful. Let's foucus on helping others here find resolution.

  • by transmogrification,

    transmogrification transmogrification Jun 4, 2012 4:43 PM in response to mjames007
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 4, 2012 4:43 PM in response to mjames007

    Have you tried contacting Apple? There are a number of ways to speak with a representative.

     

    There are also a number of ways online accounts can be compromised. Keeping your account secure is also user responsibility.

  • by timbck2,

    timbck2 timbck2 Jun 6, 2012 8:34 PM in response to stereocourier
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jun 6, 2012 8:34 PM in response to stereocourier

    This hasn't happened to me personally (yet), but it did happen to my partner. He had two separate charges on his credit card for around $40 each and he hadn't bought anything on iTunes. Even stranger, his purchase history didn't show anything. He contacted Apple, they were no help at all, so he disputed the charges with his credit card issuer. Apple has a *serious* security problem with Apple IDs and iTunes, in my opinion.

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