Fraud in Skype account, Skype does nothing to prevent or to solve

[BrielC]

Hello,

I have recently been victim of a fraud on my Skype account, I will explain it shortly.

My account was hijacked, they entered in my account, associated it with an Skype Manager account (which I had never used before) and started buying Skype credits with my credit card. My credit card data was stored in my skype account from my last purchase.

I got in touch with Skype and they say they are not responsible and won't give me any refund. In other words they said they don't give a damm.

So I am very confused now and would like to have some answers. I tried to contact them by e-mail, but all I got were automatic answers the kind that don't answer anything.

I hope here I can get the answers I need.

1) Why didn't Skype send me an e-mail when my account was fraudulently associated to a Skype Manager account? The Skype manager allows users to transfer credits to other skype users so it looks like they should be more careful with it. That is a huge flawn in Skype security.

2) The fraud happened using a series of fake users named something like "vjiy, viya, ltpd" which looks like they were created using some sort of automatic software. Isn't this a little bit suspicious? therer wer dozens of this users suddenly associated on my account. And Skype doesn't have any program to detect this things? Each one of this users received a small portion of the skype credits bought with my credit card. This makes two flawns in security on Skype.

3) Where did the money go? They used my credit card to buy Skype credits, after that the credits where spread among several fake users. And after that, what happens? Does Skype just let the thiefs use the credit like that? Can't Skype track those users? Can't Skype cancel the credits and refund me? So, please, where did the money go?!

4) Why is Skype trying so hard to blame this on me? All I got were "answer" talking about security measures that I already know and follow. Why can't Skype take some responsibility to a crime that happens on Skype website and which Skype itself was the receiver of stolen money?

5) Why does Skype store its users payment data when it don't provide the security of that data? Skype tells me they are not responsible and won't refund me, so how can Skype store my credit card data, lets someone else uses it and say it's not their problem? Please, on what grounds Skype is not responsible?

6) Is Skype ok with receiving stolen money? Because so far I think they are. My account was highjacked, Skype received fraud money and refuses to give it back.

Sorry for the long post, I just really have a lot on my ming right now.

This happend due to the lack of security on Skype. Every users is a potential victim of this fraud. So be aware.

And please, please give me a personal answer, not that pre-writen ctrl-c + ctrl-v answers.

Yours,

[fraudedby]

A very similar situation just happened with me today. Callers from Egypt and Ethiopia (their real phone numbers were left in my account) where calling each other on my skype account up to 150 dollars that skype charged me. It is obviously fraudulent as How is it possible for me to be in two countries at the same time, in the USA or in Ethiopia or Egypt making very expensive phone calls in cell phone numbers? I called them and of course, they can't do anything about it. I am done wiht skype. They saved my credit card in their website, and then they let some one in another country use it and I have to pay the bill. I think we need to sue them in a class action. 

[willydragonblue]

 Someone within Skype did the same with my account, only the amount stolen was $ 165, loaded automatically by Skype and received absolutely nothing in my account, they may be made ​​by a manager named TOMQUEA, and tried with VISA and accomplishes nothing, to: SKYPE COMMUNICATIO-LU, Skype does not want to responsible for the scam of some of its internal staff by the way all the documents were issued in China and someone who writes in Chinese, I am Costa Rica even I have Skype version was used.

[sarasigurdar]

This happened to me today I lost 175 dollars and skype won't do anything to help me or give me answers.

[jonico]

Same happened to me last August. Someone hacked into my account, changed my password and made calls made to Taiwan. I reported it to Skype within an hour. They CLAIM they aren't liable for custodianship of the money we pay them to use their service. I say CLAIM because I'm sure they really are in fact liable and that would be fairly easily proven in a court of law.

@Skype: don't just hide there denying liability for breaches in security in your own systems. Your denial has fewer grounds than mine (I deny having made any calls to Taiwan--you know that it's true because it was all done ON YOUR SOFTWARE.

Only good faith in your probity as a business will convince customers to put up good money for services not yet rendered. I'd never buy a ticket from an airline if I know they have no liability to get me where I'm going. Same here.

[mrshankar]

Today My account too fraduently accessed and made call to Taiwan . I have sent an mail to them. They have used my credit card details and placed orders.
I how dare our credit card information is stored in skype or what is the security they are giving to my other details.
If i wont get answers for this. I am challenging Skype they have to face big time problem...

[hawksnst]

I just unearthed a similar problem with my account.

Kept getting $10 charges on my paypal account, which is linked to my bank account. Didn't realize it until it hit the $100 this month.  Only been going on 30 days, so it should be fairly possible to resolve if Paypal plays fair. 

However, there are a couple areas where Skype is clearly negligent.

First, in order to resolve a problem, one can ONLY chat, message board post,  or email. No contact telephone information.  This provides confirmation for the reporting, but the "associates" on skype are trained not to make any promises about chargebacks or other information that could be considered binding on their end.  Through this process, only links are provided for protecting "your" computer from being hacked (as has been said on previous posts-this really indicates that it's the user's fault/problem, not a problem with Skype).

Next, the issue regarding the payment-if you have a payment you'd like to post, you are first given the option (in much smaller letters/faunt) to UN-SELECT the "auto charge" feature. Thus, if one is not aware of the service provided, one can indadvertantly allow the charges to be incurred each time the balance drops below a preset limit. This is a very dangerous way to do business and actually encourages misuse.

Third, there is no "dispute resolution" area, as skype is not considered a financial institution.  This allows them to move all fraud proof back to the burden of the consumer, or the financial instution being used to make the payments (in my case, paypal).  Very convenient for Skype, but very user-unfriendly for everyone else.

Finally, there still is no way to be certain that additional "holes" aren't lurking somewhere. I don't know how my skype account got hijacked, as my computer is off when I'm not logged in.  I also have it with me, never leaving it on a desk or at work. My skype account was literally being used all night last night, for multiple calls. The activity didn't stop until about an hour before I logged on this morning.  The fraudulent usage primarily occurs overnight, while I'm sleeping.  How did someone access my account when I have not been phished, have not given out user ID information, have not shared info?  There literally has been no way for me to find this out.  And Skype is not helpful or forthcoming in admitting to what is now appearing to be a very big security breach on their side.

I would like to see someone look at Skype and the multiple fraud victims and consider a class action lawsuit or some other intentional activity. 

[gardnerscott]

About 2 weeks ago over $500 (USD) was charged to the CC I had stored on skype. The chrages came from two stores in Glasgow.Thank goodness my CC company cought the charges, reversed them, and issued me a new card.While I have no proof my info was stolen from skype, I have an irking feeling that is was. I can say with 100% certainty I will not purchse from skype until they get there security issuses resolved. In fact I'll be using calling cards until such day.

[arshabbir]

Thanks for all the information you hve kept here dudes.......actually I was about to buy the credit now....but wnted to cross check on the fraud side.....and thts how I reached this site....God is Great......I m not going to buy any credit now from here ... ..thank you

[riccardo69aneba]

Why dont anyone from the support team wright any answers here?

are they not here to help?