If you're a lover of digital music, it's time to keep close tabs on your monthly credit-card statement, because iTunes-related fraud is on the increase.
In the US, one particular widespread method of iTunes fraud has been reported: namely, one that involves consumers getting receipts for iTunes gift cards that they didn't buy.
iTunes as a vector for fraud isn't really new. According to a thread on independent customer-service website Get Satisfaction, incidents stretch back over the past year, with a number of people having found bogus charges to their credit cards purporting to be from the iTunes Store. Others, however, report having been contacted by their credit-card companies because of $1 (about 65p) iTunes charges - some fraudsters use the small charge to test the waters, then start making larger purchases if they aren't caught.
By caught, however, we simply mean whether or not your credit-card company notifies you and you cancel the card. Nobody seems to know exactly who's behind the scheme, though it's becoming more and more common to find illicit sites reselling iTunes gift certificates for less than their face value, paid for with stolen credit-card numbers. It's instant profit for identity thieves.
In the meantime, the best approach is to make sure that your iTunes account and credit-card information is as safe as you can reasonably make it and to check your statements regularly.
See also:
11 things we really hate about Apple iTunes
Apple bans 'Me So Holy' iPhone app
[via Consumerist]
Dan Moren writes for Macworld
Comments
Brian said: Yes vague I myself have had small fraudulent charges for Blockbuster Online subscriptions Three to date The CC company explained they were testing the waters with them Canceled the card and got a new oneBut you see reporting on BB Online isnt nearly as sensational as the iTunes Store Seems to me if they are actually using the iTunes Store then the victims loginpassword has been compromised not random charges against their cardIts happens in many places so as a vigilante consumer I look at all my transactions monthly or more often and call the card company immediately if something amiss I also try to use good passwords on my online accounts so others cant easily access them Nothing today is absolutely foolproof but we neednt be fools either
CWT said: incidentswidespreadPlease put some facts into this piece Vague and meaningless