A growing number of Xbox Live users are reporting that their accounts have been hacked anonymously and used to purchase downloadable content including Microsoft Points and FIFA 12 add-ons.
The website Ars Technica reports that several customers have reported issues with their Xbox Live accounts over the past few days. Many are noticing that purchases of Microsoft Points and Ultimate Team packs for the new game FIFA 12 have been purchased using their credit or debit card details, and then either FIFA 11 or FIFA 12 has been played using the account.
Readers of the site have written of their experiences in a hope to warn others and attract Microsoft’s attention, who seem to be rather slow to respond to the problem.
One gamer writes: “Yesterday, my live account got hijacked and charged just over $100. Specifically, two large purchases of points followed by the download of FIFA 12, which had 2 achievements unlocked for the game, and every MS point spent on Gold Premium Packs and DLC,”
Another has blogged about the issue: “Sure enough, all of the Microsoft points that were stored in my XBL account had been spent on in game items for FIFA 11 (I don’t own that game… hell, I don’t even like soccer video games) and whoever spent my MS points had then tried to purchase more. Presumably, when that purchase failed, they abandoned my account and went on to steal from some other unsuspecting gamer.”
So far Microsoft has responded by locking access to these accounts for up to 25 days. We would recommend keeping a keen eye on your Xbox Live account and bank statement, just in case.
FIFA 12 has been one of the most successful games to come from the EA franchise in years, staying at the top of the games charts for the last 3 weeks.
Have you experienced any problems such as this one with your Xbox Live account?
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