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I think my iTunes account was hacked?
- Thread starter iTone
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You don't have to submit a credit card if all you download are free podcasts.
There is a selection under payment options for "none."
When I signed up I didn't see a "none" option but I very well could have missed it. But that doesn't change the fact that iTunes should keep my payment information secure.
Well, I have contacted them and the only information I could get was the typical stuff. Contact the police and credit card company.
don't know if it will help, but maybe it will make a difference if enough individuals continue to file reports at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. I seem to recall that three such instances of the same crime is sufficient to satisfy the RICO statutes...
I finally got my negative balance overturned. Paypal was calling me trying to collect after just a week and a half. I told the collector that I wasn't paying and she kept insisting that I was accountable. I basically said, "Look lady, I approved transactions that come from my computer and these didn't. Call Apple Corp. Security and find out exactly what happened." She said it didn't matter. So I told her that if she helped me by calling Apple, I would help her get her money. She finally said that she would look into it. The next day I finally got around to filing a police report and the negative balance was overturned the next business day after filing the report.
Itunes fraud UK
Just been reading above thread. LloydsTSb (in its supposed wisdom!) sent children as young as 11 years' debit cards for their savings accounts in June this year. These accounts are not regularly monitored as a) they belong to children b) you cannot see the account online on children's accounts and c) statements are only received twice per yr as standard.
My son (12 years) had used itunes gift cards to purchase songs for his ipod and started using his bank debit card to pay for same.
Concerned he'd have no money left, I had a word and we agreed to cancel the debit card and cut it up. I asked the bank to cancel the card and send a statement.
When this came, I checked it against his itunes account to discover that since he stopped using the debit card for his itunes account, someone else has been using his bank account to purchase items for another itunes account!
The bank have now cancelled the card and are going to refund the cash but I reckon this could be a scam on a grand scale.
Has anyone else heard of similar??
Just been reading above thread. LloydsTSb (in its supposed wisdom!) sent children as young as 11 years' debit cards for their savings accounts in June this year. These accounts are not regularly monitored as a) they belong to children b) you cannot see the account online on children's accounts and c) statements are only received twice per yr as standard.
My son (12 years) had used itunes gift cards to purchase songs for his ipod and started using his bank debit card to pay for same.
Concerned he'd have no money left, I had a word and we agreed to cancel the debit card and cut it up. I asked the bank to cancel the card and send a statement.
When this came, I checked it against his itunes account to discover that since he stopped using the debit card for his itunes account, someone else has been using his bank account to purchase items for another itunes account!
The bank have now cancelled the card and are going to refund the cash but I reckon this could be a scam on a grand scale.
Has anyone else heard of similar??
I am not sure what you are talking about. Its kinda confusing. I would not suggest using a debit card for online transactions. use a credit card..in case something happens..credit card companies can handle the transcations better..whereas debit cards simply take the money out of your account right there and then.
Did your son get his iTunes account hacked or was his debit card information stolen?
Yeah, its a PITA but using the gift cards are the safest way to purchase from iTunes.
My iTune account is hacked and they use the account to purchase $400 dollars
gift card and apple won't refund and do anything for me and just want me to call my credit card company to report dispute for this charge. What could do to solve this issue? I already call CC company to close my account and cancel those charges. Please help and I am another victim again.
gift card and apple won't refund and do anything for me and just want me to call my credit card company to report dispute for this charge. What could do to solve this issue? I already call CC company to close my account and cancel those charges. Please help and I am another victim again.
Well, your CC company should handle all the issues. There is a apple corporate security phone number that they could use, but they will not talk to consumers. The CC company will have to call. It won't hurt to file a police report and contact the Federal Trade Commission. If I can find the corp. sec. number I'll PM it to you.
Well, I can't send you a PM but here is part of the email that got from iTunes when I first reported it.
If you suspect you are the victim of identity theft, consider following these recommendations: - Contact the fraud departments of any consumer reporting company to place a fraud alert on your credit report. - Close the accounts that you believe have been used without your knowledge. File a report with the police, who if necessary may request information by calling Apple at 1-408-966-1010 and asking for Apple Corporate Security. Please note that Apple Corporate Security does not take calls directly from customers. - File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). For more information, please visit: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft I am sorry that I cannot issue you a refund for the purchases that were made without your permission. I sincerely hope that you are able to resolve this matter with the help of your financial institution. When you are confident the matter is resolved, please return to the Apple Account Information page, click the Edit Payment Information button, and enter your billing information.
If you suspect you are the victim of identity theft, consider following these recommendations: - Contact the fraud departments of any consumer reporting company to place a fraud alert on your credit report. - Close the accounts that you believe have been used without your knowledge. File a report with the police, who if necessary may request information by calling Apple at 1-408-966-1010 and asking for Apple Corporate Security. Please note that Apple Corporate Security does not take calls directly from customers. - File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). For more information, please visit: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft I am sorry that I cannot issue you a refund for the purchases that were made without your permission. I sincerely hope that you are able to resolve this matter with the help of your financial institution. When you are confident the matter is resolved, please return to the Apple Account Information page, click the Edit Payment Information button, and enter your billing information.
I think my iTunes account was hacked?
Just FYI - this same issue almost happened to me. As far as I can tell, I found out before any fraudulent purchases were made.
Similar to others, I got a message when trying to download a free app on my iPod Touch that my iTunes account information had changed, and to log on from a computer to verify.
When I logged on to my iTunes account, the name/address/phone were all different. The name was Jac Canup, and the city was listed as WAXHAW, PA with a strange (non-PA) zip code.
There was a phone number that was not from PA (it looked like North Carolina).
Again, I think I was able to reset the info, remove my cc information, and "re-securitize" my account before any true harm could be done. I am just fired up that this happened, and want to get the information out there.
It seems like something is happening with iTunes since this occurred - when I download an album or multiple songs, iTunes pauses after the third song, and then 90% of the time I get booted off of my wireless network and have to reconnect. It seems to freeze on the "processing file" stage and then disconnects. When I reconnect, 3 more songs download to the "processing stage" file, and the process repeats.
Sorry - I know this info isn't directly related to the post, but I figured I would communicate this and see if anyone else is having the same issues?
Thanks
Just FYI - this same issue almost happened to me. As far as I can tell, I found out before any fraudulent purchases were made.
Similar to others, I got a message when trying to download a free app on my iPod Touch that my iTunes account information had changed, and to log on from a computer to verify.
When I logged on to my iTunes account, the name/address/phone were all different. The name was Jac Canup, and the city was listed as WAXHAW, PA with a strange (non-PA) zip code.
There was a phone number that was not from PA (it looked like North Carolina).
Again, I think I was able to reset the info, remove my cc information, and "re-securitize" my account before any true harm could be done. I am just fired up that this happened, and want to get the information out there.
It seems like something is happening with iTunes since this occurred - when I download an album or multiple songs, iTunes pauses after the third song, and then 90% of the time I get booted off of my wireless network and have to reconnect. It seems to freeze on the "processing file" stage and then disconnects. When I reconnect, 3 more songs download to the "processing stage" file, and the process repeats.
Sorry - I know this info isn't directly related to the post, but I figured I would communicate this and see if anyone else is having the same issues?
Thanks
Exactly
-ddan2010
-teachershen
-CopperWires
-and probably more
are all one thread post wonder. Most likely posting lies for whatever reasons.
You don't know me so don't accuse me.
I am a one post wonder because I resolved the problem and I don't own a mac. The only reason I came to this site was because I was looking for answers on how to fix it. If that isn't enough proof for you then you can contact the Clark County Indiana Sherrif's department and ask them about the case. There is a police report on file. I also have all of the emails exchanged between me and iTunes, and me and Paypal. The only reason I came to this site was to find some answers on how to fix it. It's a shame that fanboys like you can't be helpful because this does happen to people regardless of who the company is.
Apple Corps might be right in that latest post about someone else but don't put me into that category. Apple confirmed that my account had been accessed and exploited by someone else. They agreed to shut it down and the financial part had to be investigated by the CC company or Paypal. They will not settle disputes with end users.
Some people's behavior are highly suspicious. Calling me name won't change that.
If it's true, losing your account due to phising or easy to guess password IS USER ERROR, way different than "iTunes being hacked".
If it's true, losing your account due to phising or easy to guess password IS USER ERROR, way different than "iTunes being hacked".
Again you have no facts to back that up. Besides phishing or entry and purchase without permission is still fraud. Excuse me if hacked isn't the correct term but my account was being used without my permission. At the time I was on dial up anyway. Explain to me how I can download almost $1500 worth of music and movies in less than an a few hours on dial up?
Gee, you think this guy is making it up? Well then here's what brought me here:
I got two email receipts for purchases of $50 like this:
Your receipt #216001268675
Billed To:
rachel@xxxx.com
Rachel [my address follows]
Order Number: MGFGYN4J6G
Receipt Date: 04/16/09
Order Total: $50.00
Billed To: PayPal
Description Subtotal
Gift certificate for a $50.00
Subtotal: $50.00
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $50.00
I have spoken with two apple reps who declare that a) it is not possible that my account was hacked b) there is no way to cancel an itunes order, c) the only way to close my iTunes account is to email itunes and c) all I can do is change my password and call "the issuing bank" to stop the charges from paypal.
They told me to go into my account information, and assumed that it was just a spoof email. I did as they said and found the payment information: PayPal mjdjhm@msn.com
Do I have to say that I don't know anyone at that address and have not used PayPal in about a year and haven't used iTunes in as much time?
What really makes me angry is attitudes like you have been dishing out here - all you self satisfied "experts" who think - as the Apple techs said that it's just not possible and if it is possible it is just not their problem! MY iTUNES ACCOUNT WAS HACKED. I am an older woman, with a baby and breast cancer, I am reeeeeeeeaaaallly far too busy to be farting around with iTunes or paypal or snotty apple reps who think it's not their problem to protect our accounts - and won't even close them!
As if I have the time and money to go deal with the idiots at paypal?
It occurred to me in all this that - it's not my paypal account that got billed. But when Apple starts looking for it's money, and that (bogus) paypal account doesn't pay it, then Apple is going to come to ME for the money because it's a purchase from MY account- and Apple's stance is going to be that its not possible that my account got hacked!
All I can do is post a form - not even having proof I sent the email to iTunes to report this (impossible) hacking.
STOP GIVING POSTERS A HARD TIME ABOUT THIS- ITS TIME TO GET APPLE OFF IT'S BEHIND TO ACTUALLY SERVICE THE ITUNES ACCOUNTS WITH REAL PEOPLE. THEY ARE TAKING REAL MONEY AND COSTING PEOPLE LIKE ME TIME AND MONEY WE CAN NOT SPARE.
I will be going to that IC3 site as well- thank you for that.
I see a crime happening and I can't do anything about it, and I am the one paying for it- and Apple is the one enabling it.
If you don't have a solution for the problem or helpful advice- ****.
I got two email receipts for purchases of $50 like this:
Your receipt #216001268675
Billed To:
rachel@xxxx.com
Rachel [my address follows]
Order Number: MGFGYN4J6G
Receipt Date: 04/16/09
Order Total: $50.00
Billed To: PayPal
Description Subtotal
Gift certificate for a $50.00
Subtotal: $50.00
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $50.00
I have spoken with two apple reps who declare that a) it is not possible that my account was hacked b) there is no way to cancel an itunes order, c) the only way to close my iTunes account is to email itunes and c) all I can do is change my password and call "the issuing bank" to stop the charges from paypal.
They told me to go into my account information, and assumed that it was just a spoof email. I did as they said and found the payment information: PayPal mjdjhm@msn.com
Do I have to say that I don't know anyone at that address and have not used PayPal in about a year and haven't used iTunes in as much time?
What really makes me angry is attitudes like you have been dishing out here - all you self satisfied "experts" who think - as the Apple techs said that it's just not possible and if it is possible it is just not their problem! MY iTUNES ACCOUNT WAS HACKED. I am an older woman, with a baby and breast cancer, I am reeeeeeeeaaaallly far too busy to be farting around with iTunes or paypal or snotty apple reps who think it's not their problem to protect our accounts - and won't even close them!
As if I have the time and money to go deal with the idiots at paypal?
It occurred to me in all this that - it's not my paypal account that got billed. But when Apple starts looking for it's money, and that (bogus) paypal account doesn't pay it, then Apple is going to come to ME for the money because it's a purchase from MY account- and Apple's stance is going to be that its not possible that my account got hacked!
All I can do is post a form - not even having proof I sent the email to iTunes to report this (impossible) hacking.
STOP GIVING POSTERS A HARD TIME ABOUT THIS- ITS TIME TO GET APPLE OFF IT'S BEHIND TO ACTUALLY SERVICE THE ITUNES ACCOUNTS WITH REAL PEOPLE. THEY ARE TAKING REAL MONEY AND COSTING PEOPLE LIKE ME TIME AND MONEY WE CAN NOT SPARE.
I will be going to that IC3 site as well- thank you for that.
I see a crime happening and I can't do anything about it, and I am the one paying for it- and Apple is the one enabling it.
If you don't have a solution for the problem or helpful advice- ****.
Here is what has been happening:
There have been a rash of iTunes codes for sale on ioffer, ebay, etc - something like $200 codes for $120 and so on. The explanation these sellers give is ' these are codes given to companies for corporate promotional usage - they go unused and we'd rather recover monetary value for these codes'
The reality is that these codes were purchased with fraudulent credit cards, and sold all over the internet. This scheme has been going on for more than a year. I have been googling all over, and it seems that Chinese resellers are a majority of the sellers of these fraudulent codes (the american resellers merely purchase these codes from the chinese sellers to resell them)
When you buy these codes, they work and you can download whatever you want from the iTunes store. When the person whose credit card was hacked, disputes these charges - Apple closes the iTunes account of the person who bought those codes. At the same time Apple refuses to hand out any money to the credit card victim.
Now here comes the interesting part:
Most of the cases I have read online state that Apple never issues a refund to the credit card victim. Apple should be held responsible, because - the fraud is occurring on their platform and they don't have enough security rules in place to prevent this from happening. for e.g. a chinese IP address logs into an american itunes account and buys gift codes - come on, I am sure they could have blocked that.
Secondly, Apple NEVER emails the buyers of the codes that they have purchased fraudulent codes. So the buyer has no idea that he/she is part of a scam.. and goes and buys more codes!
It gets better:
Apple does *not* issue royalties to the artists who's music/videos have been purchased with these codes. So... where does that money go? Does Apple keep it? In this case both the customer and the artist get nothing.. hmm. Quite shady.
There have been a rash of iTunes codes for sale on ioffer, ebay, etc - something like $200 codes for $120 and so on. The explanation these sellers give is ' these are codes given to companies for corporate promotional usage - they go unused and we'd rather recover monetary value for these codes'
The reality is that these codes were purchased with fraudulent credit cards, and sold all over the internet. This scheme has been going on for more than a year. I have been googling all over, and it seems that Chinese resellers are a majority of the sellers of these fraudulent codes (the american resellers merely purchase these codes from the chinese sellers to resell them)
When you buy these codes, they work and you can download whatever you want from the iTunes store. When the person whose credit card was hacked, disputes these charges - Apple closes the iTunes account of the person who bought those codes. At the same time Apple refuses to hand out any money to the credit card victim.
Now here comes the interesting part:
Most of the cases I have read online state that Apple never issues a refund to the credit card victim. Apple should be held responsible, because - the fraud is occurring on their platform and they don't have enough security rules in place to prevent this from happening. for e.g. a chinese IP address logs into an american itunes account and buys gift codes - come on, I am sure they could have blocked that.
Secondly, Apple NEVER emails the buyers of the codes that they have purchased fraudulent codes. So the buyer has no idea that he/she is part of a scam.. and goes and buys more codes!
It gets better:
Apple does *not* issue royalties to the artists who's music/videos have been purchased with these codes. So... where does that money go? Does Apple keep it? In this case both the customer and the artist get nothing.. hmm. Quite shady.
Now this is interesting... because last month (right near my surgery) my credit card company forced me to change cards. Security breach. Nothing to do with me personally, one of those oh-a-truck-carrying-files-of-cardholders-was-stolen type deals. I only mention my surgery because I was furious and trying to get them to leave my credit card alone because I had all these medical bills and was afraid they'd start bouncing. Anyway... that didn't happen. I changed my credit card billing with everyone that is on my list of auto-pay by credit card. (I keep a list like that because it's such a pita every time I have to get a new card, which is not often but still.) My iPhone is on that list but my iTunes is not. So methinks the hacker used my iTunes account by my credit card- without my password. I don't know how that works, but the scheme you outlined would fit.
My case with a twist... somehow they changed the payment information in my account... to this paypal account. I find it almost interesting that they didn't bother to change the address for the receipts- it was the receipts that got me to notice. I would never have known. And the recipient is itunesbb@gmail.com
So it does sound like what you describe.
Of course Apple should be responsible- or at least responsive! Simply denying the problem exists and heaping it on the account holder is patently unfair!
Speaking of shady... what a foul bunch to have to deal with... I used the online forms (which I have no way to prove I sent short of their auto-responses that do not repeat my complaint) for gmail and itunes - because there is NO way to contact these people who take our money!?!!? I found an email address to report TOS or Unauthorized Use at msn and paypal.
I changed the password in my account but left everything else in place. Another oddity, although I have two receipts for these gift certificates, only one of them shows up in my iTunes account in purchase history and on that account history page there actually is a "report a problem" button. I clicked it for the only bogus gift certificate listed, and it just changed the name of the gift to "Report a problem".
My friend just pointed out to me that I will need an iTunes account to download apps for my iPhone.
Thank you, music producer, for a very good possible explanation, i feel for the other poor guy who got stuck worse than I did (so far).
I'd like to see all the other people who thought they were so smart and self righteous apologize for the rough treatment the other poster had. It most certainly IS POSSIBLE to have your iTunes account hacked- and denying it only helps the thieves carry on.
Apple MUST start answering the phone for iTunes issues. But then, like you say, they are a big corporation and don't care at all if their uses are being victimized.
It is as simple as getting the police involved. That is what ultimately fixed my problem. In my situation, paypal electronically paid iTunes. I was able to cut them off by disabling all activity through my bank. No money was actually transfered at this point. Its just that Paypal and iTunes had the transaction on the books. Before paypal would pay iTunes, they needed to collect the money from my bank. So then paypal started to come after me for the money. The apple rep that spoke with told me that my account had been accessed from another location and that all the information had been changed. With my permission they closed the account, but would not cancel the transaction. After I got an investigator from my bank and the local police involved, iTunes did what was right and paypal stopped harrassing me. iTunes was the account that got hacked, not paypal, and not my credit card. The worst part was that I also had my debit card linked to paypal. So they put charges on both the credit card and my checking account. When my checking account was empty, they started eating into my savings because I have that convenient over draft protection. Basically I had about $50 in liquid assets the day after all this happened. Get your local police involved!
I followed all the iTunes links, got emails from iTunesStoreSupport@apple.com with my Followup number-all the emails said was worthless information about reporting it to the police and my credit card company even though I made it clear and succinct that my credit card is not involved, , how DRM affects my ability to play items I actually purchased and other nonsense.
iTunes mantra is simply: "As for the purchases on an account we can not remove purchase once they have been made."
No investigation, nothing. Music producer is correct. I last asked iTunes' rep (Wendy) if the paypal account does not pay, will they hold me responsible.
I also told Wendy I would report it to the IC3- and did, thank you very much gmerin.
Did I mention I also reported it to paypal(the form of payment used), gmail (the gift certificate's recipient), and msn.com(email address of paypal account form of payment)?
I can not report anything to the police, no money or goods were taken from me- yet.
The twist in my situation is it's not my paypal account that got charged. It's some other poor soul like you, or it's a shill for the scammer.
In my case, I only know that iTunes has the transaction in my account. It would make my day if there was no one at that paypal account and iTunes got stuck- as long as they didn't come after me in the end for the money, and I'll bet you a doughnut that's part of the agreement for using iTunes.
I am guessing paypal is currently going after that paypal account for that money charged on my account. But it's not my paypal account.
I'm impressed you even got an Apple rep to look at your iTunes account, and bowled over that you got so much information about your account from them. I tried calling twice and both Apple reps told me they can't do anything at all in iTunes and the only way to get iTunes customer service is by going to the web site form, which I did.
I haven't checked my bank to see if I somehow got charged via the other person's paypal account, but that'd be a long stretch indeed. As with the police and the credit card company, I can't get my bank involved unless money was taken from my account. I will be doing bills next anyway, if i find something I will come back and tell you. It would be pretty far-fetched.
Correctomundo, that's the part we have in common.
I am guessing the way they got in to mine was using the stolen credit card information from my bank card's security breach, changing it to this paypal account.
It stinketh much that you got so much trouble. I already despise paypal, use it as little as possible, and linked it to nothing. I once had it linked to my checking account- I will attempt now to make sure it is de-linked.
I can't get my local police involved unless and until someone actually takes MY MONEY, right now they are just using my account as a front for their purchases. The sick part is that iTunes, paypal, msn.com and gmail don't care- especially iTunes, who as you point out, are the problem.