Suggestions on how to handle “Hacked Skype Accounts”

[VooDooDoll]

I. User Can Still Access Account

1. Run a full anti-virus scan (and other security scans available in your computer).  This may help to detect and remove any elements that the hacker may have used in gaining access to your account.

2.  Immediately Change Your Password, preferably with something that is difficult to guess, and not related or totally different from the passwords you previously used. 

3.  If the hacker also changed your registered email address, changed it back to your own email address.  Here is the link on how to change your registered email address;

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA96/How-do-I-change-my-email-address-or-add-another-email-address-...

4.  Contact Skype to report the incident.  They may be able to provide you with further explanation, clarification and helpful advice.  Use the Subject Security & Privacy >> Identity theft / Account takeover.

https://support.skype.com/support_selection

5.  You can also contact your bank to inform or alert them of the incident if there is a payment method registered in your Skype account.   They may also be able to provide you with additional suggestions, advice, or options.

II. User Can Not Access Account (Password Has Been Changed) – Registered Email Address Not Changed.

1. Run a full anti-virus scan (and other security scans available in your computer).  This may help to detect and remove any elements that the hacker may have used in gaining access to your account.

2. Open the “Forgotten Your Password” page, then request for a new password to be sent to your registered email address;

https://login.skype.com/account/password-reset-request

3. Contact Skype to report the incident.  They may be able to provide you with further explanation, clarification and helpful advice.   Select the subject  Security & Privacy >> Identity theft / Account takeover.

https://support.skype.com/support_request

4. You can also contact your bank to inform or alert them of the incident if there is a payment method registered in your Skype account.   They may also be able to provide you with additional suggestions, advice, or options.

III.  User Can Not Access Account (Password Has Been Changed) – Registered Email Address Has Also Been Changed.

1. Run a full anti-virus scan (and other security scans available in your computer).  This may help to detect and remove any elements that the hacker may have used in gaining access to your account.

2.  If your account has a billing or purchase history in the last 6 months, you can request for a new password without the need of your registered email address.  just click the link below;

     https://login.skype.com/account/password-automation

    After acquiring a new password, you can proceed in changing the registered email address to your own           email address;

    https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA96/How-do-I-change-my-email-address-or-add-another-email-address-...

3.  Contact Skype to report the incident.  They may be able to provide you with further explanation, clarification and helpful advice.  They will most likely ask you to provide some details in order for them to verify that you are the real account owner.  Select subject/topic Security & Privacy >> Identity theft / Account takeover.

     https://support.skype.com/support_request

4.  You can also contact your bank to inform or alert them of the incident if there is a payment method registered in your Skype account.   They may also be able to provide you with additional suggestions, advice, or options.

5.  If your account has no recent purchase, it may no longer be possible to retrieve your account.   Still you can try to contact Skype to know if you have other possible options.

Note:  If for some reason the links to contact customer support don't work, you can also send an email to contactus@skype.net

Useful Links

A. Protecting your Computer

http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/security/online-safety/#protecting

B. Skype Security - Protecting your online safety, security and privacy.

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/security/

C.  What can I do if someone has taken over my account? (from support.skype.com)

https://support.skype.com/en-us/faq/FA10920/What-can-I-do-if-someone-has-taken-over-my-account;jsess...

D.  How can I contact Skype Customer Service?

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA1170/How-can-I-contact-Skype-Customer-Service

[olighak]

Skype is useless for this.

They will claim that you the user are responsible, and that they don't need to do anyhing.

So....

Do not allow Skype to autorefill your account when it runs low on balance, and do not store a creditcard, or other payment info with them.

Each user is liable for whatever the hackers can steal.

As this is from recent personal experience, I recommend you to never keep payment information on file with Skype.