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iTunes account linked to Paypal? Watch out!

by Paul Myers
15 replies
Fraudsters Drain PayPal Accounts Through iTunes

It seems Apple has a serious security vulnerability that's allowed a lot of iTunes accounts that are linked to Paypal to be accessed by thieves. They're draining those accounts. Paypal has reportedly been very good about handling the issue. Apple, not so much at this point.

If you have an iTunes account that's linked to Paypal, watch it closely.


Paul
#account #itunes #linked #paypal #watch
  • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
    Yes, that exact thing happened to me a couple of months ago. It was an iTunes account I created last year and used maybe one time.

    iTunes support responded quickly and got my money back quickly. The one thing that bothered me was this line in the email telling me my transactions would be refunded:

    Please note that this is a one-time exception, as the iTunes Store Terms and Conditions state that all sales are final.
    It's probably some boilerplate they always include, but it still pissed me off, since my account was hacked through their website. If it happens again, would I be SOL?

    I decided not to comment, being glad to get my money back, and instead canceled my billing agreement in PayPal with iTunes. I doubt I'll be going back there anytime soon.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemac1
    Thanks Paul and Ken.

    I don't know if this might help but I recently was just checking "my preapproved payments" list on my PayPal account (this is the list of subscriptions that are automatically approved to receive payments each month from your account) and noticed 3 iTunes subscriptions that were active.

    I clicked on the details and noticed that each were able to access up to $5,000 in funding.

    After reading this article, I just cancelled each of the subscriptions (also, I haven't ordered anything from iTunes in a long time).

    Again, I don't know if this might help but it can't hurt especially if you are not an active iTunes purchaser.
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  • Profile picture of the author tecHead
    I would strongly suggest that you never open your PayPal account for anything like that. Instead apply for and use the PayPal debit card; which places a buffer between your account and other sites.

    I will use my PayPal account directly for one-time payments and subscriptions only; as they are "access once close access" type transactions handled internally by the PayPal system.

    Where the other site holds an "open connection" to your PayPal account; those types of transactions are (as the OP -- thanks Paul -- points out) are vulnerable to hackers IF the third-party site is lax with how they've programmed their security for that open connection.

    Using the debit card allows for that buffer between your PP account and the 3rd-party site; which makes it 50x harder for the hacker to access ALL your available funds in your PayPal account.

    HTH
    PLP,
    tecHead
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  • Profile picture of the author simmonsmike7
    As good as the internet has and has made me an awesome living, it's also given low lifes like this access to do such idiot things. I always wonder if these guys are so smart why not build a billion dollar company? you've got the brains for it...
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  • Profile picture of the author Pipinscott
    Yes, I am currently living the nightmare. Paypal has taken the stance...your on your own with iTunes. Paypal stated that since I linked my Paypal account to iTunes all charges from iTunes are valid and I need to contact iTunes for a remedy. iTunes incidently has a standing policy of absolutely no refunds.

    And the frustrating thing is there are no humans to talk to at either Paypal or iTunes.
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    • Profile picture of the author tecHead
      Originally Posted by Pipinscott View Post

      Yes, I am currently living the nightmare. Paypal has taken the stance...your on your own with iTunes. Paypal stated that since I linked my Paypal account to iTunes all charges from iTunes are valid and I need to contact iTunes for a remedy. iTunes incidently has a standing policy of absolutely no refunds.

      And the frustrating thing is there are no humans to talk to at either Paypal or iTunes.
      I'm empathetic, but shouldn't you have taken that, (above bolded text), into consideration when attaching your PayPal account to your iTunes account?

      Providing a convenience doesn't necessarily dictate obligation to those that take advantage of said convenience. <shrug>
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Scott,
      And the frustrating thing is there are no humans to talk to at either Paypal or iTunes.
      Find the number and get them on the phone. From everything I've heard so far, except your situation, they're responding to this well when you speak to a human about it.


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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Well, being the anti-gadget pays off this time. I don't have an iPod or iPad or iAnything, but this did alarm me enough that I checked to see if I had a billing agreement in Paypal with them because at one time I remember downloading iTunes ... not liking it and deleting it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pipinscott
    Well tecHead...your right...shame on me...

    Guess that means I deserve the hit???
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    • Profile picture of the author tecHead
      Originally Posted by Pipinscott View Post

      Well tecHead...your right...shame on me...

      Guess that means I deserve the hit???
      I definitely do not feel that you (or anyone) "deserves" to be hacked/hit/bamboozled (whatever you wanna call it)...

      ... but, at the same time, if you don't look both ways before crossing the street the possibility of you getting hit goes up exponentially... doesn't it?

      Like Paul said; get on the phone...
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  • Profile picture of the author zoulkifl
    This has happened to me in the past. I'm not sure how it happened. I was checking out my bank account when i realized that itunes was debiting money from my account on a monthly basis. I never signed up for a recurring payment. I never even purchased anything from i tunes i found that quite peculiar.
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    Thanks for the warning. I had a credit card on file instead of my PP account but I removed it just in case. I don't download songs often so there is no need to keep a card in the system.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pipinscott
    The moral of the thread is to go check your Paypal account and be sure you have not given iTunes cart blanch access.

    I was unaware I had given that freedom, live and learn...or better yet learn from others mistakes.

    Still looking for a phone number to get a human at PayPal. I was informed there is none for iTunes and the Apple rep then hung up on me...gee guess I shouldn't have said that was stupid..my darn temper...
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