More iTunes Fraud Uncovered and Addressed

**Michael Essany** · 07-10-2010, 12:24 PM

On the heels of widespread complaints of fraudulent iTunes account activity, there is a new report this weekend of Apple pulling the plug on yet another developer's applications that experienced strong sales amidst complaints by at least one user that their account was fraudulently accessed for unauthorized purchases of the apps in question.

The accused developer is "WiiSHii Network." Apple Insider notes that the dev's travel applications "[EN]GYOYO Shanghai Travel Helper" and "[EN]GYOYO Beijing Travel Helper" ballooned into top ten territory before adequate attention was brought to Apple about the potentially fraudulent activity that helped drive those quickened sales. The incident follows the shenanigans linked to developer Thuat Nguyen who is alleged to have similarly inflated sales with hacked iTunes accounts (some place the number around 400 accounts). Nguyen had, at one point, 42 of the top 50 book apps on iTunes.

Apple has been quick on the draw to address the growing instances of user and developer fraud that has given iTunes a black eye in recent weeks. In addition to pulling apps and the developers they're tied to, Apple is trumpeting a very clear message to its massive base of iTunes subscribers: check your account, review your order history, and keep watch of your bank statement or credit card tied to iTunes. Cupertino is also easing fears with a helpful reminder that confidential customer data remains just that - confidential. No developers have access to that private information when applications are purchased or downloaded.

Apple Insider

**awesomeSlayer** · 07-10-2010, 12:27 PM

Ahh! A hand is coming off my screen!!

Dang! This stuff never stops. Nguyen? That's the exact last name one of my friends has!

Good...now no one can say first.

**whereswaldo** · 07-10-2010, 12:29 PM

Apple is one of the worlds biggest companies, but can't stop being hacked by little devs

**Excel Wiz** · 07-10-2010, 12:44 PM

wow.

**frail1** · 07-10-2010, 12:50 PM

the one that did this to me wasn't either of the ones listed so far...

**RICO_** · 07-10-2010, 01:11 PM

It's okay guys I'm sure a fix is "in the works" like pretty much everything else

**moon#pie** · 07-10-2010, 01:18 PM

all I can think about after looking at the pic is "My ergonomic keyboard never leaves me bored..."

**stlcaddie** · 07-10-2010, 03:29 PM

I know like a family of 12 here in st Louis with that last name. Hmmmm, I should see if they have iPhones and mac's.

**tudtran** · 07-10-2010, 03:47 PM

Apple need to plug their holes. I dont wanna see apple take longer to approved apps. But that's what they may have to do.

**Michetti** · 07-10-2010, 05:15 PM

You can never fully stop hacking...

**iGuy** · 07-10-2010, 07:26 PM

Once again, an anti-Apple post from Messy. Hmmmm! Why is she allowed to post on an Apple site?

**santacruzlocal** · 07-10-2010, 07:49 PM

I would love to get my hands on some of these hackers ... Drag them through town behind my car !!!! Before I get my money back of course

**smuggler** · 07-10-2010, 07:58 PM

There are some morons commenting in this thread, the last name Nguyen is like Smith in Asia

**moon#pie** · 07-10-2010, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by iGuy

Once again, an anti-Apple post from Messy. Hmmmm! Why is she allowed to post on an Apple site?

you're a joke.

**jkmonkey** · 07-10-2010, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by tudtran

Apple need to plug their holes. I dont wanna see apple take longer to approved apps. But that's what they may have to do.

If Apple could plug ALL the holes in their software they would be the first software company in history to do so. Every piece of software is vulnerable in one way or another. Not only that but if there were no more "holes" there would be no more jailbreaking.

**Sandrunner** · 07-11-2010, 01:18 AM

If you were able to do a search by household, I'm sure you'd find that well over 30% of the families in southern Vietnam are Nguyen. Took the name of the old King.

**billmilo** · 07-11-2010, 01:55 AM

I feel ashamed for bashing Microsoft in the past.

**CaptainChaos** · 07-11-2010, 04:09 AM

I knew in app purchasing would be a bad idea from the start. Now my point has been proven.

**rhekt** · 07-11-2010, 11:43 AM

Well I think this is just terrible!
....Comparing Nguyen to Smith. It's more like Thompson

**TooSlo** · 07-12-2010, 03:39 AM

I'm sure the frustrating part to many people is that apple doesn't even refund the money to you, instead telling each customer that they need to go through their credit card company for a refund.

Disgusting.

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Thread: More iTunes Fraud Uncovered and Addressed

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On the heels of widespread complaints of fraudulent iTunes account activity, there is a new report this weekend of Apple pulling the plug on yet another developer's applications that experienced

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