Unauthorized purchases in the App Store and experience with the iTunes Store Support

with me recently, there was an amazing story c unauthorized purchases, correspondence from the iTunes Store support team and a happy ending. Therefore, I would like to talk about how to avoid falling into this situation and what to do if you were in my place. But first, a little backstory.

Once in the end of June, when you try to update or download programs from the App Store, I received the following message:

This Apple ID has been disabled for security reasons. Visit iForgot to reset your account ( http://iforgot.apple.com)

Account Activation at the address took only a couple of minutes, and then I forgot about the problem successfully, even trying to find the cause of its occurrence, and continued to work with the store for iOS apps in the normal mode, and nothing. Looking ahead to add that such a blockage can occur automatically - after a certain number of incorrect password attempts from your Apple ID.

After that, it was exactly two weeks and at the very moment when the past two days I did not have the Internet, some

bad person Download from the App Store app on my behalf (a variation of poker) then made in the application of unknown purpose object purchase with a strange name «15M chips» for $ 20:

The attentive reader will certainly ask himself how a simple password I have been selected? My answer: not so easy and it is suitable to the requirements described below (once generated using pwgen). I still speculated.

Together with the payment receipt came to me two letters. They mean that these purchases were made from a computer that has not been previously associated with my Apple ID, as well as invited as soon as possible to change your password:

I want to warn users if you were in a similar situation, would not download applications from idle curiosity - it will be another confirmation of your innocence.

It gave a special piquancy to the situation that I can not stand the spirit of gambling, especially poker :-) unpleasant moment, but immediately began to understand the reasons for blocking the June accounts.

Range of views received a cursory survey of friends was wide enough: someone said that should certainly write to the iTunes Store support team, and someone - that for 20 $ Apple naryagatsya will not. As it turned out, it would be.

Input travel links «Report a problem» I threw on contact formWhere I filled in the appropriate fields in the drop-down «Specific request» list, select the item «I have unauthorized purchases on my account », have« Order number »(it is in receipt of the payment), and do not forget to describe in detail details.

Since I have an American Apple ID, write a letter and had to communicate in English with support. So if you have problems with a foreign language, I recommend before sending it to someone to read and correct.

Unfortunately, the answer to the first call within the promised 24 hours did not come. I have not paid attention, and on the second day, so I just re-designed application, and after a few hours reading the first letter of the very friendly staff iTunes Store Customer Support named Ranjit (Ranjit).

So that criminals (whoever they were) did not buy anything else, Ranjit temporarily disabled the ability to download for my your Apple ID and reported that In-App Purchase without my consent is exception to the rules of service in the Apple stores and, therefore, I can count on a refund, which should occur within 5-7 business days (though it went much faster). Also, in the letter, it was stated that I can not see the money come back until we leave and will not go back into your account.

There is one more thing: the money has been debited from the Store Credit, which appears after replenishing the account's Gift-cards. And who knows what would have ended the story, if it had to make a return for a credit card with my real address. 99% sure that the account would be simply banned.

My Apple ID is not blocked completely: I can not download apps, but in the "My Account" to enter without problems. And in order to perform a full activation Ranzhitu had to write another letter.

It was necessary billing address (billing address), tied to the account, and one thing to choose from:

• Order number of the latest purchase or free download (it can be viewed in iTunes - the section «Most Recent Purchase»).
• Or the name of any app I've ever downloaded from this account.

The present owner Apple ID is not difficult to answer these questions. Also, I did not point your phone, but if you want to talk live - is to say that at the moment you You are abroad and so the number will not use (in the US, as far as I know, there is a practice of re use old phone numbers).

Finally my assistant from the iTunes Store support once again strongly advised to change your password (which I at that time had already done) and gave a link to such an article (Eng.) From the Apple Knowledge Base, which explains some of the techniques to ensure the security of your account.

I bring out of it a few interesting points. First, Apple recommends to leave the iTunes / App / Mac App Store every time you have finished it to make purchases. Secondly, when you install the user password can use these recommendations:

• Do not use the same password for multiple accounts or password, coinciding with the account name.
• Do not use previous passwords.
• Not to tell anyone your password from your Apple ID and secret answer, even to family members. And the answer to your security question should be obvious that it was difficult to pick up.
• From time to time, change the password to reduce the risk of falling into a situation similar to mine.

Yes, and the password should be at least 8 characters long and contain at least one number, one uppercase, one lowercase letter (you can add some sign to be sure, for example, @ $ !) And does not contain three identical consecutive symbols.

Anyway, in any situation, I recommend you not to despair and not to rash acts. Take time out, consult with more experienced people and develop into the strategy itself. Apple attitude too revealing to customers.