Full FeedBeware of the “iTunes Fraud”
No, no, Apple is not stealing your money through its online music store. Rather, it turns out that thieves are beginning to use online services (i.e., iTunes), to test the legitimacy of stolen credit cards. According to The Mail on Sunday, this is referred to as the “51p iTunes fraud”.
It works in three stages. First, the thieve steals your (or some unlucky person’s) credit card details over the internet. Then, they make a small purchase through iTunes. Since the value of purchase is usually less than $10, little or no warning is given to the cardholder.
Once the iTunes purchase is successful, the thieve then uses it to purchase more expensive items. Remember to check your credit card statements often, and always be alert on the internet.
Read [This is Money]
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You say Apple iTunes is not trying to steal your money but I have my doubts. Apple is responsible for having a “secure” website and obviously they are doing nothing to increase the security.
Fraud purchases of $400 were made using my debit card through iTunes. The same day that same debit card was “tested” through the American Red Cross by making a $10 donation. When I contacted the Red Cross about it, they “immediately” refunded the $10 and said this happens a lot with them. Why can’t Apple iTunes refund the fraudulent charges too? Certainly they are in a better financial situation to refund money than the Red Cross. It makes me very suspicious about iTunes when they don’t give you information to help you find the thieves and don’t refund fraudulent charges. So who benefits from these fraudulent charges? Answer: the thieves and Apple iTunes. The bank, the credit card company, and I don’t benefit at all.
on December 26, 2008 at 01:52 PM - LINKthe same exact thing happened to me on NYEve. $400 downloaded from itunes. Cancelled credit card, reported to Apple. Trying to track down the username who purchased the product. I agree with Janet that Apple should make it very difficult to buy with credit card. Much more security is needed.
on January 6, 2009 at 08:13 PM - LINKThe exact same thing happened to me. I am so upset. Over $400 is missing from my account. I’m on social security and this money was going to pay my mortgage.
on January 8, 2009 at 01:39 PM - LINKSame thing here. I had two seperate charges of $200.00 each on the same day charged to American Express. Apple has been no help. I have called three times, even been given a case # but nothing had been done. I just filed a dispute AE
on January 29, 2009 at 05:45 PM - LINKI got charged for $1100 from APL*ITUNES 866-712-7753 CA
on February 8, 2009 at 12:06 AM - LINKFive of the iTunes charges were for $200 and 1 charge was for $100 all made on my debit card within one day.
Since the transactions are for even dollar amounts I’m assuming they’re for iTunes gift cards.
By the way, I don’t even have an iTunes account.
I called Apple and asked that they reverse the charges…they flat-out refused my request.
Apple’s customer service representative had a “prepared script” from which she read from basically telling me it was my problem and to take it up with our bank. Apple offered no assistance in resolving this matter knowing full well that a crime had been committed.
I asked, how many legitimate people spent $1100 a day on iTune purchases?
Obviously, the CS didn’t have an answer for that one.
It’s appalling that Apple won’t reverse charges when there is such an extensive record of this scam online.
Chase is our bank and their fraud department alerted us to the fraud but I still haven’t received my money back.
Bottom line, Apple / iTunes doesn’t give a rat’s ass in helping you.
My debit card was “tested” for $500. The 866-712-7753 number only has a recording directing fraud victims the send an email.
Apple’s security sucks and the company does not care to help.
on February 14, 2009 at 01:32 PM - LINKSame here, I found out 1400$ were taken from my paypal/bank account accross 13 transactions on the SAME DAY! I mean its got FRAUD written all over it yet they allowed it. I called AppStore number 888-MY-APPLE spoke to some laidy called Christian. I explained that I don’t see any purchase history in my account, I have never purchased anything from itunes in my life. She says, someone could have added my paypal account to ther Itunes account and ran up the charges. Now, she won’t say who owns that account is, or what was purchase. The interesting thing is that someone changed my paypal account to Chinees language. All my purchace receipts came in chinees. I couldn’t even read the emails. Apple, shoud have known that my account is regeistered in North America and that my preferences in itunes is set for english.
Apple has obligation to assure that the charges they run on people’s account are authentic. Consumers entrust them with their account by authorizing them with paypal, they need to put faud detection in place. I mean it is so simple for them to do. Simplly flag all paypal accounts if they are registerd to more than one person’s itunes account. Then force all parties to validate before you successfully “activate” the paypal account to itune account. I had already registerd my account with Itunes, when this jack ass tried to add my account to his itunes account, apple should have flagged it right there.
It is absolutely their faulty system that is to blame. The fact that they choose to turn a blind eye, makes them just as much to blame.
If there is any Apple representative reading this, and wishes to contact me, please send me an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
on March 3, 2009 at 07:17 PM - LINKsame crap just happened to me….
APL*ITUNES - 866-712-7753 CA — 03/02/2009 03/01/2009 $100.00
APL*ITUNES - 866-712-7753 CA — 03/02/2009 03/01/2009 $200.00
APL*ITUNES - 866-712-7753 CA — 03/02/2009 03/01/2009 $200.00
i blame this on apple as well as the credit card.
I had something happen with my discover card a month ago using napster ( i have no clue how they are getting my numbers) - but discover immediately recognized this, called me and put a stop to it right there - why could visa not do this.
now with apple, i used that same credit care under my itunes account… I have never bought anything over $10 from the itunes store and they let 3 charges go through…bs
on March 4, 2009 at 12:38 AM - LINKI was yet another victim last night on this same issue. Got two $200 debit card charges on my Chase checking account. People like this will get their just rewards when they are burning in hell. Only whish I got my turn at them first.
on March 4, 2009 at 09:37 AM - LINKTo my regret, I was contacted by my MasterCard “Fraud Detection Division” Monday, 3/2/2009! Some miscreant had attempted to charge $1212.18, which was completely inconsistent with my card use!! It was for sporting goods/equipment; I’m a 72 y.o. disabled grandmother, BTW. The item stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb, and was preceded by several $1 I-tune transactions. I don’t own an i-Pod either. Up ‘til now, I hadn’t realized just how vigilant my MasterCard employees are! The squirrrrrrrely item was rejected, my card immediately cancelled, and a new card is on its way. Some inconvenience WAS experienced. I check in with website frequently, and pay online. I’ve been promised an investigation; a questionnaire is being snail-mailed. I’m on record as protesting even the ~$5 in i-tune charges!!
on March 4, 2009 at 11:26 AM - LINKThank you all for commenting on this site. I don’t know what the original author of this post thinks about all of these comments but I really think this situation is criminal. I’m not wealthy but I do feel for those of you who are on very limited and fixed incomes. I brought this site to the attention of the Apple iTunes feedback site. Anyone else who wants to push this forward with their comments to iTunes can go to this url: http://www.apple.com/support/feedback/ It may not do any good but at least we can voice our complaints here. If you have other people that you know who have had similar problems, please have them comment here too. This is what I just sent to the Apple iTunes Feedback:
“I think Apple iTunes should should check out a running commentary on a website that discusses the security of your company: http://www.appletell.com/apple/comment/beware-of-itunes-fraud/ The comment list of disgruntled people is growing on this site. The comments give example after example of the lack of security measures iTunes uses for purchases. There are a number of secure features that should be installed in your site. In this time where money is tight for everyone, your responsibility in having a more secure website is the right thing to do for all. It is so disturbing to hear the stories of people who are on a limited income and have never had an iTunes account, yet are charged large sums of money through iTunes that will cause them to not have enough for the month to live on. Apple passes off the complaints saying it’s the responsibility of the credit card company to take care of this but I and many others see it as Apple’s lack of responsibility that CAUSES the problem. Why do you not have an automatic email go to the buyer to verify the purchase?
I want to feel good about your company but ever since I was a victim of your site, I can only relay warnings to my friends. Apple, please make this right so I can recommend your service with confidence.”
on March 4, 2009 at 12:17 PM - LINKHappened to me too on the second week of Janurary! a token amount was pending to clear my account, then larger charges came through! 200 x 2!
on March 4, 2009 at 10:49 PM - LINKWow I am shocked at how many of us have been had by ITunes!
on March 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM - LINKI was charged for $200 each for two gift cards that I alledgely purchased - they were charged to my Paypal account. I contacted my personal bank immediately, so they could stop the charges from going through. Then I contacted Paypal and disputed the charges. Thirdly, I contacted iTunes/Apple.
I have gotten NOWHERE. Paypal says that I have to get iTunes to refund the money because the fraud came from their end. iTunes/Apple says that Paypal’s fraud department must contact the iTunes Store to resolve this issue.
So, I did this, Paypal regretfully said that they could not help me, and Apple refuses to tell me where the gift cards I ‘purchased’ went to and they won’t give refund.
I have now received a letter from a collection agency trying to collect the $400 I owe Paypal.
This is insane, it’s taking up too much of my valuable time and if I had an extra $400, I would just pay it and screw it all. But I don’t have an extra $400, I don’t have an attorney or the funds to hire one and I’m at the end of my rope here. I’m just glad to see that I am not the only one who has been screwed by Apple. Because of this situation, I will never buy an ipod or anything affiliated with Apple and I am also fed-up with Paypal as well.
Any suggestions? Can we file a class action suit against Apple - especially since they are completely aware that this has been going on for a LONG time.
Now come on there has got to be a lawyer or two out there that have been burned like we have been burned. Seems one of them would put together a class action lawsuit on Apple. I realize most class action cases mean not much money for the plaintiff’s but I don’t care. However, Apple might have to put out lots of money. I don’t care if I only get 10 cents on the dollar back as long as they pay big.
on March 5, 2009 at 06:59 PM - LINKI’d like to know what the author of this post thinks. Marvin Sims, did you expect this kind of response on your post? Your article begins with “Apple is not stealing your money.” I’m curious… do you still feel this way after all these comments?
on March 5, 2009 at 07:13 PM - LINKThis happened to me too. $300 worth of gift cards were purchased from iTunes. I do have a iTunes account, but I buy very little music (I spend maybe $2.00 per month).
I called Apple, but they would not help me, they said I have to take it up with my bank. I have a dispute with PayPal (which is where the charges went).
Of course, PayPal took the $300 out of my checking account, which caused an overdraft charge.
This is so frustrating, and messed up because Apple would not help me. I contacted them within a few hours of the charge. They could have immediately turned the gift cards off, instead of making me go through the investigation process of PayPal.
on March 6, 2009 at 09:15 AM - LINKI agree totally with Frank. I don’t want any money from Apple - except for my $400. It is just trying to correct something that is wrong and is adversely hurting people.
on March 6, 2009 at 09:19 AM - LINKThe fact that Apple and iTunes refuse to admit or correct this problem is a problem in itself and leads me to question their morals. Greed is what is ruining our country.
Every one has lost only around $400 or or $1000 , I lost around $4000. Some one used my debit to buy itunes on 26 Feb, same day he has purchased zoobooks and on 24th he has purchased something on vistaprint for $5.45.
on March 6, 2009 at 05:21 PM - LINKMy bank is going to dispute with them, I am not sure I will get back the money or not although my bank has given the money temporarily. Apple itune store must be very happy as they did the good business. They are not worried about security.
Wow, $4000. That’s horrible! My bank has returned my $400 to me too. Thank you ANB! I wonder if it would do any good to report this to the Better Business Bureau? Has anyone tried that yet?
on March 6, 2009 at 05:31 PM - LINKThe BBB has about as much clout as we do in mattes like this. I reported it to IC3 which is the company that manages internet fraud complaints for the FBI. If enough of us do this I bet the FBI will get Apple to make changes to their process. Here is the link to them. If you have been victimized please take the time to register your complaint. Thanks
on March 7, 2009 at 06:39 AM - LINKhttp://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
Ok so here is an update. Today, PayPal got back to me with their findings. It turns out they refunded the entire amount. Infact, they did a complete review of my account and found that there were 1500$ in fraudulent charges and not just 1400 that I had claimed! I must say this was resolved to my satisfaction. However, I don’t think I will keep my iTunes account linked to my PayPal account anymore.
Even after all this, I would rate PayPal highly for their customer service.
on March 8, 2009 at 10:45 PM - LINKAny one remember what were the last online transactions before the apple itunes fraud incident. So that we can identity where the card information are stealing.
on March 9, 2009 at 02:40 PM - LINKPayPal got back to me… and denied my claim. So for now, I am out the $300. I wrote back to Apple, and I hope they take care of me. If they don’t, I am prepared to sue them in small claims court.
This fraud came from someone hacking into my iTunes account and buying gift cards, which were charged to my PayPal account. Since a billing agreement did exist between Apple and PayPal, they will not refund any money.
on March 9, 2009 at 02:47 PM - LINKWell, PayPal will not refund me because I had a billing agreement with iTunes. iTunes will not refund the money, they said PayPal needs to initiate a chargeback, which they will not do, because I have a billing agreement with iTunes.
So they are both pointing their fingers at each other, meanwhile I am out $300.00.
I am still fighting this, but lesson learned: DO NOT have a billing agreement with PayPal, because you are NOT PROTECTED in the case of fraud.
on March 11, 2009 at 09:05 PM - LINKHave any one has given complaint to Police department regarding the theft of debit or credit card?
on March 12, 2009 at 01:42 PM - LINK