Several Xbox 360 users have complained that their Xbox Live user IDs have been stolen
Xbox Live fraud on the rise
/v3-uk/news/1978277/xbox-live-fraud-rise
21 Mar 2007, Tom Sanders in California , V3
Several Xbox 360 users have complained that their Xbox Live user IDs, or 'gamer tags', have been taken over while they are playing, and that they were unable to log-in to their accounts at a later point.
"Some folks are having their Microsoft points stolen or points purchased via their stolen gamer tag," said security researcher Kevin Finisterre in a posting to the Full Disclosure security mailing list on 19 March.
The InFamOuS online gaming clan even lists accounts that it has stolen, accompanied by the reason why, Finisterre found.
An account by the name of 'BxR RaMpAgE' was allegedly stolen because the previous owner "talked s**t to 'JuStCaLLMeFRESH'".
One user on the Xbox Forum claimed to have lost five accounts to the clan.
Microsoft's helpdesk agent acknowledged the issues to Finisterre but blamed the problems on Bungie Studios, the Microsoft owned developer of Halo and Halo 2. Finisterre has posted a recording of the conversation on his website.
Numerous users have suggested that Microsoft or Bungie has been hacked. A Microsoft spokesperson categorically denied that the Bungie.net service has been compromised.
"Bungie.net has not been hacked and Xbox Live accounts have not been stolen. Any reports stating that are false," the company said in a statement to vnunet.com.
"Xbox Live has strict policies against hacking and will penalise any individual who attempts to do so."
The Xbox Live service allows gamers to connect to the internet and play online. It also provides access to the Xbox Live Marketplace where users can purchase digital goods such as armour and weapons, or expansions to existing games such as maps.
Purchases are charged with so-called Live Points. Microsoft sells a credit of 4,000 points for $50. Gamers also can link their credit card to their Xbox Live accounts to allow for purchases to be made from within the gaming console.
Microsoft Points are also the currency of choice for the company's Zune Marketplace, an online media store where a single song goes for 79 points. The digital currency cannot be converted back into real currency.
Finisterre is currently collecting reports about stolen Xbox Live accounts in an attempt to force Microsoft to take action.
"I would certainly say that Microsoft is more than negligent in dealing with this issue especially with regard to the potential theft of personal information," he said.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
FREEZING
MY 360 AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE CONSOLES HAVE ALL FROZEN MID WAY THOUGH GAMES BOTH ON LINE AND NORMAL PLAY.THEY HAVE ALL GONE BACK TO MICROSOFT TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY ARE ALL LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD, IS THERE A DESIGN FAULT Or A FAULTY BATCH ?
Posted by STEVE, 26 Mar 2007
not happy
yet again the theiving little sh@ts strike again they stole my son's gamer tag and emptied my account not happy at all when will microsoft sort this out what will it take??????????
Posted by lee watkins, 30 Oct 2007
hackers ...whos fault ?
what happens now then once youve built up a gamertag 4 over a year.then suddenly you carnt even get online whos 2 blame?all the hours of trying 2 improve your stats and socializing with people you got 2 no can so easily be pulled from underneath you.It makes you think twice about starting again.they charge us a fortune and were supposed 2 just shrug of the fact some numpty can walk away with your profile..they encouraged us 2 spend hours and hours of or lives sat in front of a screen the nagging weve had 2 put up with off our wives and girlfriends ...That in itself calls for some kind of compensation.WAT A WASTE OF TIME.
Posted by ezzergeezer, 15 Dec 2007
XBOX LIVE FRAUD CONFIRMED
i am a police fraud investigator and have received a report from a user that someone has used there account details to purchase halo 3 maps for the offenders own xbox live account.
i am having so much trouble trying to get some use from the so called support team for xbox live, i have spoken to a support agent on 2 dif occasions and neither could grasp what i wanted from them so have no idea how gamers are gonna be helped when they wont assist police..
after the 1st agent i emailed the xbox team detailing what exactly happened and who was suspected of doing this, and even then i just received an email back stating to call the support team.
i called them and got even worse "support" and after 26 minutes of trying to talk to the daft cow, i demanded to speak to someone higher up and that took a further 7 minutes for her to decide to put me through, 47 minutes later and i was still on hold!
Posted by Joe bloggs, 14 Jan 2008
It doesn't need to be an account hijacker to get ripped off with Xbox Live
It doesn't need a fraudster to get cash from your account, Microsoft seem pretty good at that all by themselves ...
I've been trying to cancel my account for 6 (SIX!) weeks with Xbox live.
The call centre wouldnt recognise me as me when I tried to cancel, despite giving them credit card details, email address, date of birth, full address details, where my mother was born, my gamertag, etc.
"Im sorry sir, I don't recognise you as you, and therefore your account will be renewed automatically" - literally was the response I had. I didnt know what else to give them.
I sent four letters, none of which were responded to. I call a total of 5 times. It turns out that non of these calls were logged.
Eventually, I spoke to someone who then agreed to cancel the membership.
To only find out that £39.99 had been deducted from my credit card.
Microsoft is a typical faceless organisation, no-one will take any responsibility, and why the heck should they when they have us all by the short and curlies.
Bottom line im afraid is simply not to sign up.
Posted by Disgraced at Microsoft, 05 Mar 2008
XBOX SUPPORT A WASTE OF TIME
I have had the most terrible experience: I was No.3 on the New Zealand leader boards with 102012 points exactly when it happend. I am an avid gamer as I own a small games shop and I will admit that maybe I was slightly over the top with my addiction to the points. I had to buy the big hard drive for all the games etc I downloaded with the MS points which I regularly purchased. I have four 360 consoles as they have all been faulty in someway except my newest. It took 2 years of my life to get where I was and then suddenly my account and identity, friends list etc was taken over, I had no idea what had happened at first. A few hours later when I realised what had happend I rang the international help line from the Live website, as I was panicing and could not get through to the one in NZ as it was closed until Monday and it was Saturday evening that this all happend. Basically the first person had no idea what to do and told me to recover my account, so I rang back and the next person told me that they only support America and Canada. So after two, half hour calls to the US and no help whatsoever I waited all weekend and rang the NZ support on Monday. They said there was nothing they could do and that I would have to start again with a new account. I explained that I may have credit card details on my account and was begging for them to help in someway or transfer me to someone who could, eventually after having to ring back again later, I spoke to a supervisor and all he could do was email my concerns to Xbox Live.
The account has all my details but I can't log in as the theif has changed my password. I have asked if they could email me the password and they say they cant do anything over and over they repeat themselves. I am horrified and just dont know what to do next as I can go online and see this person using my account and do nothing about it. Even though they know I am the true account holder and have proved it, Xbox support still refuse. It makes no sense. My gamertag hasn't been changed it is still yelckol darb (my name spelt backwards)
I have a games shop and will no longer promote Microsoft after this terrible event!
If there are any organisations who would like my help or advise on what has happend to me please let me know through my partners gamer tag xCountDracularx on Xbox Live.
Posted by Brad Lockley, 04 Mar 2008
Stolen XBOX account
My bank account was jacked back in April for $412.50 for microsoft points we did not purchase and I was told sorry too bad for you. Now my son's entire xbox account has been stolen and they refuse to shut it down or do anything about it, I have a file folder full of the runaround I have been getting for months. Just yesterday someone tried to buy points on the bank account but the credit card would not work and later I got another e-mail stating that points had been activated via a pre-paid card. I have had to change banks after more than 25 years at the same bank. LETS SUE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Kim, 05 Aug 2008
what can i do
how do i get my gamertag back
cuz i cant recover it and my windows live account wont work either
Posted by hazzaslim, 15 Sep 2008
Hijacked my sons xboxlive account
Today my son account was hijacked by someone on his friends list we have got the persons gamertag told this customer support the name and they said they will look into it . The account has know been suspended for the time being . They said they contact with in 2 to 3 weeks about what is going on .Then i gave them another ring back about what i have found on youtube the lady i was talking to about the issue she said there is no chance this could'nt happen without given your details out what an easy way out for them. Since looking for other problems that people have had the same issue
Posted by Darren, 28 Jul 2009