stereocourier

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

Close

Q: iTunes store account hacked

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 118 of 131 last Next
  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 4:05 AM in response to rseilham
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 4:05 AM in response to rseilham

    Im enough with these all problems from many itune store subscribers, If they cant produce the reciepts that I am asking from my Proof of purchase from september 17,2012...all I need to do is not to buy or put money on my accnt..Now I have to resort on any ways bad or good just to used these units that I have from Apple company.,eNOUGH... iT IS BETTER TO SORT FROM THOSE JAILBREAKER SITES,BECAUSE FROM THE START YOU KNEW THAT IT ISNT SAFE DOING BUSINESS WITH THOSE GUYS AROUND THAT HACKING THING...iT IS MUCH BETTER TO BEING ROBBED BY PEOPLE  YOU KNEW THAT THEY'LL DO THAN THESE PEOPLE WHOM YOU TRUST BUT TAKE EVERYTHING FROM YOU WHILE YOU WERE ASLEEP...

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Sep 23, 2012 8:35 AM in response to Micangelo
    Level 9 (79,692 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 23, 2012 8:35 AM in response to Micangelo

    Micangelo wrote:

     

    Yes Chris...If youre from the admin...or whatever of this apple support, yes I am willing to pay.

    Why would you pay if they are not yours?

     

    Just tell Apple you want a refund because they are not yours. They do have receipts for all purchases.

  • by crapple75,

    crapple75 crapple75 Sep 23, 2012 8:43 AM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 23, 2012 8:43 AM in response to MadMacs0

    Express lane service was a joke.

     

    NINE days later i finally got my ID re enabled. Customer service was a gong show from the start.

     

    From emails that spanned days, to actual phone calls totalling 8 hours of hold time. Disconnects, and failed call backs i am back in business.

     

    My next phone will not be a iphone, customer service plain sucked! For something that takes 5 min to do.

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 11:00 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 11:00 AM in response to Chris CA

    Chris CA,

    Do you think I dont have the brain to do the thinking before you telling me what to do? I am sure most of us posting like this here does first the thinking and doing what to and where to complain...and Im sure they were not answered as we expected to be their answer that is why we do this noisy thing like doing here....Be nice replying posts .. are you really one of us or just a tailed down dog from apple support staff?

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 12:09 PM in response to nloudon66
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 12:09 PM in response to nloudon66

    .

     

    <Edited By Host>

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 11:44 AM in response to blurred1978
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 11:44 AM in response to blurred1978

    Apple replied about my complain,but what they did is not the answer on what I am asking....I am asking for reciepts from september 17,2012 til this day...all they do is replying me with those so many contracts statements when you subscribed itunes and those monthly paid apps...I replied that I dont need those reply because I fully understood the contract and all I am asking are the reciepts of purchase from that day til present, but still they dont produce those reciepts... It is only a small amount of money,but the main problem here is...the integrity and fear if I puchase another gift card for an amount much bigger, is there assurance that it wont happen again?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Sep 23, 2012 12:00 PM in response to Micangelo
    Level 9 (79,692 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 23, 2012 12:00 PM in response to Micangelo

    Micangelo wrote:

     

    Chris CA,

    Do you think I dont have the brain to do the thinking before you telling me what to do? I am sure most of us posting like this here does first the thinking and doing what to and where to complain...and Im sure they were not answered as we expected to be their answer that is why we do this noisy thing like doing here....Be nice replying posts

    I was nice replying to posts.

    You stated, "yes I am willing to pay....but if you cannot prove me with those reciepts".

    I simply asked why you would pay if they are not your charges?

     

    As I stated before, just tell Apple that those charges are NOT yours (f they really are not yours) and you wish to have the charges removed from your account.

     

    Apple replied about my complain,but what they did is not the answer on what I am asking....I am asking for reciepts

     

    They will not send you receipts, You can see them for yourself in your purchase history.

    See this -> iTunes Store & Mac App Store: Seeing your purchase history and order numbers

     

    all they do is replying me with those so many contracts statements when you subscribed itunes and those monthly paid apps...I

     

    You don't subscribe to iTunes and pay a monthly fee.

    You purchase apps and they are yours. You don't keep paying.

    You can get annual/monthly subscription for magazines and newspapers but you can end your subscription.

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 12:26 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 12:26 PM in response to Chris CA

    Chris CA,

    I have enough from your answers...dont you think I can understand reading rules of subscription? Chris if you still insist of what you think I didnt know, just ignore me coz I only have answers that are with sense , but so low....Ok Chris, if you still  dont know what I know...before subscribing to any subscription, there are questions ask about what rules of contract do subscribers want... and Chris please....all of my subscription and contracts before accepting and going into it...I made it sure that we both agree that every purchase of any free or paid apps that I will be downloading, we both agree that they will send me proof of purchase/reciept in everything I had from  them.... I dont need those little amount that are missing from my account, all I need is their INTEGRITY...that is all I need, so I am asking them to follow what we agreed on our contract....cant you understand that all I am asking, if they can prove me that I am wrong by complying on the contract both parties...so I am asking them the reciept...I hope that my english will fit in your head...I am a japanese, and I was trying hard to make everyone understand my english

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Sep 23, 2012 12:41 PM in response to Micangelo
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 12:41 PM in response to Micangelo

    Micangelo wrote:

     

    How would you know if one of us are from the apple support?  are you friends with them?

    I have friends and neighbors who work at Apple, but none that I know of hang out here. I just know that they are not allowed to provide support openly here as an Apple employee.

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Sep 23, 2012 12:48 PM in response to Micangelo
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 12:48 PM in response to Micangelo

    Micangelo wrote:

     

    .

     

    <Edited By Host>

    I was going to try to clarify something in this post (your english is fine, but I don't always grasp your meaning). Now that it's been edited out, I think I'll just ask if you have read this Intego article "Recent In-App Purchase Hacks and What They Mean for You"?

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 1:22 PM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 1:22 PM in response to MadMacs0

    MadMacs0,

     

    Thanks for that link about the issue.....maybe I was just upset, because I am using my iTunes account for more than almost or maybe 3yrs!? This is my first time experiencing this issue, it all starts september 17,2012 when I loaded more money for my account using gift cards....everytime I purchase apps from the iTune store, I instantly recieve exact proof of purchase/reciept because that was I agreed before subscribing to any applications contract....just this week I was wondering why I loaded money in my accnt and never touches the last amount that I load/I mean never purchased any apps, but the money is gone...I already send this problem to  Apple Support about this about this, they reply on my first email to them, but their reply wasnt about what I am asking them..I am asking them all the reciept in every purchased that I had this week,yes they sent me the other reciepts, but I am asking them to send me all/complete reciepts of purchased I made this week that made them take the money  from my account...they sent me those many contract copy...but none of them answers what I am asking them...  I am not using any bank accounts/credit cards for my iTune account because I cant trust the internet these days..I am only using Gift Cards if I am about to load money for my account....They are telling me about banking taxes...etc...I dont know who the **** bug head answers me from the Apple Support group, He/ She doesnt know their rules that if you are using Gift Cards for your account, automatically  it is free of taxes...then why they talk about tax.... If the can send me the proof of purchase/reciepts , that is all what I want to prove to anyone that I am wrong...but still they dont...that is why I am so upset...I dont purchase apps of games from iTunes, Im into photography and music only and social networking...Now that I read about that story,from now on I wont buy gift cards until they fixes all the problems....I think Im so rude and harsh to Chris CA  ....I need to say sorry to him...and Thanks for the effort teaching me what I dont know. <3

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 1:33 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 1:33 PM in response to Chris CA

    Chris CA,

     

    I so sorry for being harsh and maybe so rude for words...maybe I am just upset...and thanks anyway!!

  • by Micangelo,

    Micangelo Micangelo Sep 23, 2012 2:10 PM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 2:10 PM in response to MadMacs0

    Now I remember why I got so upset...It is my first time to have a Macbook Pro which I bought mid August this year, I sent email to Apple Support about the Over heating of the gadget and the battery dont last as long as what they are saying tru their advertisements...but I never had reply from them... My gadget is Macbook Pro 13" with Prossesor 2.9 GHz Intel core i7 . 8GB 1600 MHz DDr3 , and even serial number of the product I sent to them and ask them how fix this issue...because if installing so many applications made this problem, I only have few apps in my gadget installed...I think the big apps I installed in here is the Mountain Lion OS X and Google Chrome browser...but still they dont reply.. I read some posts that after they installed and updated to OS X 10.8.2 they get rid of the over heat and battery problem...But mine never change, not until someone from another site read my problem, he teach me to use the SMCfan Control software...those problems were solved.... I am wondering what is the use of our APPLE CARE contract if they just ignore our problems? Now Im done with it...This is my first time using Mac OS, that is why I need some infos from them for the things that I dont know...after I fixed that heat and battery problem, I started to Love Mac OS, until I encounter  this iTunes accnt issue...but still, I want to know more about Mac OS... Now I realized that I dont need to fight to anyone, all I need is to have friends who are more used or experienced in using Mac OS...anyone? Im residing here in japan, male and 28 yrs old...please welcome me to a group if there is any?

  • by Griffin904,

    Griffin904 Griffin904 Sep 29, 2012 1:10 PM in response to Micangelo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2012 1:10 PM in response to Micangelo

    Thank you all for all the useful information here, however something I dont get with my own incident with this is that, a CC is/was never tied down with an itunes account yet still, I am charged with about 80$ worth in random charges to my CC. I dont see how this could ever been possible.

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Sep 29, 2012 2:35 PM in response to Griffin904
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Sep 29, 2012 2:35 PM in response to Griffin904

    Griffin904 wrote:

     

    something I dont get with my own incident with this is that, a CC is/was never tied down with an itunes account yet still, I am charged with about 80$ worth in random charges to my CC. I dont see how this could ever been possible.

    The perpetrators have been hacking iTunes accounts and then changing the information, using stolen credit card numbers, addresses, etc. to make such purchases. They may have obtained your card number from some other source. I'm guessing none of these charges showed up as being from your iTunes account?

first Previous Page 118 of 131 last Next