HACKED!

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by John Shields

Ugh. I utterly hate computers. I called home from work to get a surprise. My wife checked our bank account and much to our enjoyment, we were negative $1,000+. Apparently someone hacked my iTunes account (which I don't even have installed on this computer), and managed to download over 800 songs, apps, games, etc from the store.

The purchases made went through my attached PayPal account, which in turn pulled funds from my attached bank account. Needless to say I learned a few valuable lessons.

1. NEVER EVER link bank accounts or credit cards to ANY store or application.
2. Use ONLY a pre-paid card and manage the card for purchases made online.
3. Change and monitor passwords for websites constantly. I now have a different password for every website I visit.

I'd pay a hefty sum just to find out exactly where these orders originated from and visit this person. What kills me is that the music wasn't even good. I hadn't even heard of most of them (some being Mexican and Chinese).

So user beware if you have iTunes I would look into removing your financial information and changing the passwords and other associated info. I don't know how they got the access whether it was through a security leak from Apple (again, I don't have the software on this computer or any computer)... or if they had logged my e-mail and password from somewhere else and used it there on a fluke (I've since stopped using that password and haven't logged into iTunes in probably a year or more). No idea. But I HIGHLY suggest you guys look into this yourself.

I'm now in contact with my bank, PayPal, and iTunes trying to get these charges removed from my account (and the 35 some odd finance charges for overdrafts which should be another $1,000+). Quite the fun and exciting adventure. Seriously if I ever found this person and I intend to try, they're going to wish they never did this.

sorry to hear of your troubles!..please don't get angry with me,however you only have yourself to blame!..with the technology available today,don't even bother doing ANYTHING online!..you MUST protect your own self interests,so why take a chance with "screwing" around online?..have to be honest,it seems like everybody is out to f**k ya!..in my view,ya cannot be too careful!...always "protect" the money!

[gHoSt437]

Something like this almost happened to my brother about a year ago. He noticed a few cent's being deducted on random dates on his bank statement so he called the bank to ask wtf.

They told him it was good he caught it as someone was trying to hack his account. What happens is is a hacker uses random numbers trying to deduct very small amounts from someones checking account until one clears a few times then they wipe you out. Luckily he caught it and they changed his account number for him.

I still have the first credit card I applied for way back when I had no credit and its the type of card that only has a $250 limit that can not be increased. It used to have a crazy high interest rate and annual fee, but I got those taken care of with the Sailors and Soldiers Act when I joined the Air Force.

I love that card because its now the card used for most of my online shopping, and attached to my itunes, xbox live, etc accounts. Sucks to get hacked but if it happens oh well I'm only out $250.

[v6sonoma]

I've used the password 123456 on everything and so far no one's be able to figure it out yet. JK!