this morning I was trying to update two apps i bought from iTunes US and i got this rather scary msg: your iTunes account has been disabled. You will have to contact iTunes customer service to enable your account.

anyone encountered this?

i have googled for the error msg and this problem can be caused by buying iTunes credit that are later found to be illegally bought from a stolen credit card, etc.

sigh.

This post has been edited by atomica: Feb 12 2009, 01:56 PM

So did you buy iTunes store credit and if so, where was it from? Ebay?

from low yat garage section. 1x us200 and 2x us100.

man..u scary me too..from who?? i always buy here too.

This post has been edited by vostroxe: Jan 29 2009, 02:15 PM

i have already warned the peeps over here numerous time regarding this matter

well, i have contacted apple and waiting for its response. until then its going to be an unhappy time for me

u contact apple?? i think ur acc totally disable bcz u not from u.s man..

damn. i missed your post, man.

btw,we need to know from who u buying with..

incorrect. they can but highly unlikely as everyone whom i know is using the american itunes. there has to be a disclaimer for legal purposes.

This post has been edited by nokia2003: Jan 29 2009, 02:22 PM

atomica, they will later re open ur account, but the remaining credits will all be missing already

until i get a response from apple it would be unfair to the seller if I posted his/her name here. mebbe it could be due to other problems although it is probably unlikely.

---

Added on January 29, 2009, 2:24 pmoh well, as long as I get to use my account again. thanks for the answer.

This post has been edited by atomica: Jan 29 2009, 02:24 PM

i would say that losing the remaining credit isn't the worst thing that could happen to him/her.


the worst is actually having a permanently suspended account where your purchases can no longer be used anymore.

yes, that's what i am afraid of. one stupid mistake and now i have to wait 24 hours for apple to respond. argh.

well, i dun think it would be permanently disable
the same issue happen to my BIL as well
and yet, we even pay dollar for dollar value at it from ituneshop.net

sure hope so. only one way to find out - wait.

Sorry to hear that bro (shoot ... this might happen to me too!!!).

should have a warning for this on iPhone Buying Guide. will be really helpful.

should be pinned for all itunes related stuff

reply from apple:



My name is Erica. I understand that you are unable to purchase from the iTunes store with your account. I would like to apologize for all the inconvenience that has been caused.

Finding a solution for you is important to me, so I have requested assistance with the issue you reported. You will receive an email after the matter has been investigated and further information is available.

Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible.

Sincerely,

Erica

iTunes Store Customer Support
Please Note: I work _Sat-Wed, 9-6:30PM CT_

Thank you for your patience. Apple wants your iTunes experience to be as enjoyable as possible.




so, still not solved. at least, it's good to know that Apple Support works on Saturday.

Believe it or not, atomica, the outcome to your case here holds many in suspense here. A lot of us have been purchasing cards below credit amounts and are plenty worried about the same fate happening to us. I personally pray nothing happens to your account. I would DIE if anything happens to mine. No more Lost TV Show nights with my buddies, no more Heroes, no more Family Guy? I'd rather DIE!

am hoping it is due to something else too, dude. and the waiting is killing me. and can't buy apps even though i have so much credit (at least for now).

Hmm..because of this, im also worried about mine... ( i already expected for the worst when I 1st purchased the gift certificate )...
So...I went for shopping spree at iTunes last night...

wow...i plan to buy the itune gift certificate from lowyat.net garage sales tonight, luckily i read this post. must inform everyone about this.

any1 know where to buy itunes gift card from trusted seller??

There's a guy in garage sale that selling the physical card and not just the code. His nick is e trade pj or something.

good for u.

unfortunately for me I can't even update the apps i already own.

This post has been edited by atomica: Jan 30 2009, 10:27 PM

mine got disable too..i buy from LYN forumer..my undownload movies n music jaz gone..

This post has been edited by BobDon: Jan 30 2009, 10:32 PM

oh no...another account has been disabled. i guess there will be a lot of people affected especially the person who bought from garage sale.

Everyone. Try getting something from iTunes now. Be it free apps, or free music. Does the error:-



comes up?

Try it now. Is it just me, or is this everybody else's case as well. If it is just me, then my paranoid level just went up, probably due to the recent iTunes credit I've purchased. Help!

I guess the paranoia is valid since most of us if not all bought the cards from the garage sales thread (including me). I've been vigilantly monitoring the situation to the point where I will launch itunes whenever there's a free time just (just to check). Hopefully, the account-disabled thing is not really in relations with the gift-card-purchase thingy.

Fingers crossed

Too good to be true, USD=RM ??? ... Logik ker??, Google it lor... but dont worry la, as long as your apps/movie/song etc already sync to your itunes or downlond via itunes, still can be use/watch etc.....Just must understand concept account and authorize computer..... . BTW, bila beli gift code, cepat2 beli sblm kena gantung......pastu buat account lain.....

but the catch is if u buy apps you won't be able to update it anymore. and filedrunners 1.2 is coming soon ...

I thought the updates are free? This problem only comes when Apple disallow your account to buy any new content off iTunes store, and updating apps is treated like "buying new content". Once Apple has done investigating, from past experience, they will re-enable your account, but probably with the credits removed. You can still update your Fieldrunners even with zero credit.

yup, u are right. if the account gets re-enabled again, should be no problem.

hi mate,
how's your account?
i'm sorry u encounter that.

well, if u need any LEGIT credit later on, perhaps i'm bit steeper price than others but I walk on my words.
just letting you know that.






This post has been edited by corallinkz: Jan 31 2009, 05:14 PM

I've been hit by the same problem.

This post has been edited by apoc1810: Jan 31 2009, 10:32 PM

I just got mine: from US paid 7.75% California tax on top of the face value
I personally never tried garage sale and never be.




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well, from now on I am just gonna stick to buying from Malaysian iTunes using my credit card.

msia itunes can only buy apps, no songs, or movies

btw, garage sales, e trade is selling with physical card, shoudlt be a problem

atomica, problem still unsolved? apple still no reply?

nope. been frantically checking my e-mail and still no reply from apple.

This post has been edited by atomica: Feb 2 2009, 06:25 AM

Maybe you need to do some follow up with them.

sent Apple another mail but no replies yet. so very slow.

After reading this thread, I too am beginning to get a little paranoid! I guess there's nothing much I can do but to keep my fingers crossed.

fieldrunners update now available ... and still no reply from Apple. argh!

This post has been edited by atomica: Feb 3 2009, 07:46 AM

@atomica,
Perhaps drop them another email or give them a call?! I wonder if those people at the Apple Care Help Desk can help on iTunes matters?!

i guess if i don't get the answer by today, i will have to make that expensive call to the US.

@atomica,
Y don't U wait till u get up tomorrow - it was afterall night in the States when it was afternoon here

atomica

I too, am waiting...I guess, we have to be patient...hopefully, all is well

@apoc1810,
U facing the same problem/issues too?! Did U also buy 'cheap' iTunes credit?!

ooopss, maybe i'm too late. u actually can call them using skype, certain US hotline no need to pay a single cent.

I've been using legitimate iTunes gift cards bought from actual Apple Stores in the US and was absolutely gobsmacked when I found the same message: "Your iTunes account has been disabled for security reasons"

A quick check on the Apple support website for iTunes suggested that you should reset your password. Before trying that, I tested my MobileMe account and found the same error message as well so they're both linked. Reset my password and I'm happily downloading again

BTW: the "security reason" is apparently because the wrong password had been entered multiple times. Since I have my password saved in my Mac keychain, I KNOW I did not type it in wrongly so I have no idea how this could've happened. Perhaps someone/ppl trying to access my account? Anyway, to those affected, try resetting your password.

We should create a pinned thread and put in the people who are selling problematic iTunes credit so that next time we are aware....

Talk about problematic sellers, bought 2 US$200 from this guy 56xxx, paid the money, after that the guy disappeared...i gave him my money on the 22nd Jan 2009. Since it was close to CNY, i gave him a chance thinking maybe he was away but till today he is missing

Bought from this link --> http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/875659

Anybody knows him or have his contact?

really?
I bought few from the seller, and so far ok...

That's why, a lot of people from this forum had very good experience buying from him and that made me decide to buy from him. Ever since I banked in the money, I haven't heard from him. I have messaged him through LYN many times and have not heard anything from him.

I found out from another thread that he is a Vietnamese student studying in UCSI in Cheras but nothing bad about him. Maybe he has gone back to Vietnam for the holidays. I have paid like RM600 to him.

yes, would be really helpful to have an iTunes pinned thread about warning and a list of trustable sellers.

i'm considering getting an iphone but wanna hear about the itunes.. so u all mean that we cannot buy officially music or movies with credit card and can only purchase through gift card from US?

and then the apps can be purchased through credit card?

There is Malaysian iTunes Store for Apps, so you can able to use your credit card for Apps.

After a series of restless nights, I have received the long awaited email from apple, stating my account has been reenabled. What a relief.

atomica,

How about you?

apoc, wat abt ur existing credits?

so far the credits are still there...

This post has been edited by apoc1810: Feb 6 2009, 08:51 PM

the dreaded answer:

Dear sir,

Thank you for your patience while we investigated why your account was disabled. I have reenabled your account. Your account was disabled because the purchasers of the three iTunes Gift Certificates redeemed to your account (listed below) have refuted the charges with their credit card companies.

XM7CQPX4RXK8GWBP
XMCMFP5Q3XSZ4B8M
XM7T54MCMLV35X7S

When charges are reported as unauthorized, any remaining iTunes Store credit from the disputed purchase is considered unauthorized and is removed from the account.

If you purchased the iTunes Gift Certificate on an auction website, it may have been part of a fraud claim. You may want to address the issues with your purchase to the seller, or use any dispute resolution service provided by the auction website or other remedies that might otherwise be available to you.

If the iTunes Gift Certificate was purchased from Apple, the buyer will need to contact his or her credit card company to discuss the disputed purchase.

You can now resume purchasing from the iTunes Store, but the funds from the fraudulent iTunes Gift Certificate will not be made available to you.

Sincerely,

Matt
iTunes Store Customer Support
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww
I work Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 3 PM

well, at least ur account is still there
and who u buy it from ?

ouch.... mr atomica....

how much is still inside ur acc when it got disable?

one advice for those buyin this cheap itunes card
write down wat u wanna buy, then redeem card, one shot buy up the value

it is not entirely "inflicted" by the seller to be honest. it is a matter of luck actually. i dare to say 99% of cheaper itunes gift cards are somehow purchased using a stolen credit card or by means of fraud. apple knows this fact very well and there is no surprise it was mentioned in the above e-mail to atomica.

why do i keep insisting it's about luck? it all depends on whether the credit card provider/apple can be swift enough to detect this incoming fraud and most of the time, they are done randomly.

---

Added on February 12, 2009, 5:27 pmtry reading the ebay forum. it is said that a seller can usually sell these fraudulent itunes gift cards (always in the form of redemption serial number mimicking your prepaid top-ups) to approximately 40 people (or somewhere in that quantity range) before being flagged down by the ebay administration. however, out of that 40, maybe only 5 will have their itunes accounts being suspended by apple. therefore, this statement reaffirms my claim that it is entirely about luck and "type" of seller has little to do with this.

---

Added on February 12, 2009, 5:31 pmanyway, i'm not trying to be a "pot-calling-the-kettle-black" person as i do look for cheap itunes gift card bargains as well. i'm not refuting that.

hence it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

This post has been edited by nokia2003: Feb 12 2009, 05:31 PM

try checking youtube and you'll find itunes store gift card code generator.
i guess i don't really mind buying codes from code generators.
and i do really think these sellers in garage sales are selling using code generators because they have lots of codes at their disposal.

just that i'd really like to know who's selling codes from fraudulent credit card because that really implicates matters big time.

nokia2003, i once posted b4
even i paid value for value on reputable site like ituneshop,net , its the same thing

@atomica,
What about the stuff U purchased? Was it erased and taken off ur account too?

i got both of my account stuff deleted after getting the same message from apple.now its practically like a new account with nothing from it anymore.

damn it.its not once but twice in two weeks..

spent more than RM2xxx on both that accounts.now waiting for the buyer to explain to me.

guys,just becareful when buying itune codes.

to fully understand the concept behind this, kindly point your browser here

This post has been edited by nokia2003: Mar 28 2009, 08:18 PM

Guys,

The itune codes that are sold in this forum are really not legit at all. For once think logically, is it possible for USD200 gift card to be sold at RM200? Does it make any sense to you at all?

The seller might claim that his code is legit and bla bla bla....if he is lucky, your account would not be suspended . If your account is suspended, the seller would then try to persuade you and tell you all the grandmother stories and offer you a new code.

Lastly, codes that are sold in this forum i can guarantee that it is NOT legit at all. I'm sick of it as i spent more than RM2k for 2 accounts and got it suspended.

If the seller claims that it is legit, ask the seller to send you the REAL itunes card.

I hope no one would be tricked anymore.

Regards,

Clarence

P/S : Hope MODs will make this thread sticky.

is tis da issue sm ppl here are facing/


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Sorry to hear bout it man, 2k credits gone just like that...Good idea to ask the seller to send us the real itunes card...
So far anybody else having problems? Thinking of buying credits soon...

atomica, are you able to use all the apps u purchased with the illegal itunes codes now? itunes deleted your remaining balance, does it deleted your apps as well?

harmeet

yup, that was what happened to me previously.

The path that I had taken was emailing apple for further actions. It will take a while for them to uplift the ban and in my case in turns out well.

This post has been edited by apoc1810: Mar 30 2009, 12:42 PM

What's already purchase is still usable, PROVIDED Apple does not decide to suspend your account. Your iTunes account is the key to your content library, and if Apple wants that key back, your library is locked out off you forever. That includes EVERYTHING inside your library, and purchases tied to your account. Your apps may still work, but future updates will not be downloaded over.

My concerns are more on the amount of TV Shows I've purchased along the years I had my account. This is easily worth more than RM5,000 and if Apple suspends it due to illegal code redeems, I swear to God I'm going to find the seller that sells me that redeem code and sue the arse out of him. This is serious, my iTunes library and the activities surrounding it is too much ingrained to my everyday life already that it is part of my daily needs for entertainment already. I've already trimmed any needs for local television or Astro(here) or cable(in the States) to news or locally available terrestrial broadcast, as iTunes has provided me with the shows that I need.

why the TS so hard to mention the seller's name? duhhhh..

because there is no need to mention the seller's name. how hard is it to spot those sellers? as quoted, rm200 for USD200. one has to be extremely daft (and not to mention greedy) not to pin point them.

string, if im not mistaken, u did bought one of the cheaper values codes from one of the forummers here, no matter how legit he says it is, you shud know its not that possible

so, best of luck with ur account

yeah, how can RM200 buy USD200 worth of credits? No matter wat staff price/bulk price/special arrangement you have with suppliers it doesn't seem possible... i guess the best practice we should try to adopt is to ask for the card to be sent to you...

Well, why not we make a police report since we already have their bank account number?
I mean this is credit card fraud and as well as con job.
So, if something goes wrong, let's attack the source. Make sure the will not come back here to con us again.

I recently bought RM210 for USD200. After reading all this... I am crossing my fingers...
Hopefully nothing happen to me.

---

Added on March 31, 2009, 2:43 pmAnd after reading 1 of the link posted here... they say China sell at RMB18 or RM9 for a USD200 credit code. HaAHAHaHaHA... jilakak...

This post has been edited by timothyy: Mar 31 2009, 02:43 PM

tim, just finish the USD200 as fast as u can before apple suspend your account. but depends on your luck too... some people use it for 3 months still ok, some suspended in just one month. So the moral from other buyer's experience is, buy all the essential apps within one month, then slowly finish it up in 3 months time.

haha, true also, some are lucky and don't get caught, but some not so lucky.. mayb tat's how the sellers do business, go by probability... so even if one of their customers get his or her account suspended he/she still has a whole lot of other customers to back them up saying their codes work...

In my case I dun really shop a lot on app store. Maybe only want a few apps which i find useful but still can live without.. so i dun wanna buy 100bucks of credit and use only 10 bucks... and now with this issue i'm adopting a wait and see attitude....or probably get a lower credit with physical card and not just the code, safer....

Ha! Ha! Ha! That's the problem. I thought I have a lot of things to buy but then only found out... I only have a game or 2 to buy. As of today, 3 days already... I only managed to buy 3 games. He! He! He! And I seriously donno how to surf the itunes webpage. Too many icons. Ha! Ha!

Well, I believe they have been selling it for more than 3 months in LYN. Although most of the sellers are using new account created just to sell itunes credit but I noticed some are old members. (basic instinct tells you old member cheats less )
And if there is really problem with itunes credit from those old members for sure we would be seeing lotsa complain and such right?

All iTunes sellers has been put on halt as investigation is at hand. You'll see this quote below on many [WTS] iTunes Giftcard threads.



Be cautious and not be scam by sellers who sells RM 200 for USD 200. They could easily generated itunes codes with code generating software.

The best option is to buy a physical certified iTunes Gift Card.

This post has been edited by davidgary73: Mar 31 2009, 04:53 PM

is good too, now LYN found out the problem..
i already 3 months didn't sell my iTunes Gift Card since the offer is 200USD=RM2XX..
but now headache also..my thread kena suspent also..

Exactly! You know how worried I was at that time, right?

He has my word that if his codes screws up my account that he will see no end of my wrath against him. I will not hesitate to take actions against fraudulent acts if they are found as such.

erhm... actually there is one complain against the seller at dispute corner now. probably cos whenever anyone's account being suspend, they will contact the seller first, and the seller will advise the buyer to create another account and compensate the code for them. so win-win situation.

Remember to check out this thread http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/862590 it will help u spend more

That is the most stupidest and ridculous solution to that problem I have ever seen! You do know that your purchase is tied to your iTunes account right? If Apple suspends or blanket-ban your account, you have ZERO access to the purchases you have made, it will render those songs, movies or TV Shows unplayable. You may be able to still use your apps, but you will no longer able to update them for better features and functionalities since to do that, you need your account active.

If these sellers are proposing that form of compensation, I will slap each and everyone of them on the back of their heads for taking light of how dead important and serious my account is to me. their blatant ways of making fast money at the expense of other people's misery will get them into situation where, if their victims are as vengeful as I am, it will mean suffering for the rest of their life for making my life this troublesome.

cool down...
last time i pm-ed a girl, she also got her account suspended due to credit card fraud, then email to apple... after apple reply her telling the problem and erase her balance, they lift up the ban as well, so she still can continue to use her account.

Same case as with the thread starter i guess... apple did activated his account right? That means only lose the balance but still can access to the previous purchase?

You want to play "Russian Roulette" with your account with Apple? And hoping that they dont totally block it off entirely, rendering your entire purchase unusable? I would understand if you've only sinked a small amount of money into your account, but some of use have invested thousands of dollars and RM in content value, and playing "Russian Roulette" with Apple, hoping that they close one-eye on your blatantly obvious mistreatment of your privileges with your account is reckless to say the least.

Well, when the deal is too good to be true (USD200 for RM200 only) and you choose to go with it, be prepare to face whatever consequences it may arise.

Seller always promise the best, do make sure you know all their info so you can get them to compensate all the RM you invested.

The safest bet? Buy the expensive real iTunes gift card or use your credit card.

Good luck to everyone of us (yes including me haha)

i have always been advocating this matter (regularly will know this for sure) but it is only beginning to gain momentum ever since maxis brought the iPhone in.

anyway, my source of iTunes store credit comes exclusively from ebay.com (listen what i have to say first and don't get all riled up); from private sellers i.e. those who sell the cards once in a blue moon and not those into the so-called iTunes gift cards business. these private sellers typically have the actual physical card in hand and probably received it as a gift. furthermore i only approach those who are willingly to e-mail me a scanned copy of the actual gift card. hence, IF (though unlikely as apple usually targets those who reloads their account electronically) my account gets suspended, i have a proof of purchase. simple and legit.

and another great advantage of this method is, they are usually prices slightly cheaper than the market price (which makes sense if the price is the same, i might as well buy from the apple store). on the average my USD25 cards are purchased at a region of USD20.

and also as a backup, i have the australian iTunes account (as i'm based here). FYI, you can have more than one iTunes accounts purchases synchronised/authorised on your iPhone/iPod Touch. no doubt that this method is more expensive than the one prescribed above, but at the end of the day, it is meant as a backup anyway.




This post has been edited by nokia2003: Mar 31 2009, 08:09 PM

*Glup...

Scare my acc got suspended too..
Buying from stringfellow reseller itunes too... last time...
My beloved movie and app..

from my opinion, this itunes seller like "cendawan tumbuh" after maxis bring the iphone in malaysia....
Last time, only got 1 reseller itunes card only in lowyat forum...

I used to own a US credit card and therefore my itunes is registered to the US. But the card is expiring and I don't want to change my region to Malaysia. Is it possible to get valid itunes gift cards (not fradualent ones of course) so that I can continue to use my account instead of re-registering it with a MY CC?

Thanks.

Thread Merged.

To all forumers, please post all related iTunes related woes/queries in this thread.

Thank you

Cheers

hmmm i don't think that is feasible to be honest. credit cards are uniquely tagged to their country of origin.

however, if i can advice on something; credit card providers are usually very "generous" in their attempts to woo you to use their cards. hence i don't that it will be a problem at all for your credit card provider to mail a brand new card, (free of charge) to you in malaysia.




This post has been edited by nokia2003: Mar 31 2009, 11:07 PM