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Cyber Thieves Raid Xbox Accounts In 35 Countries
Updated: Tuesday, 22 Nov 2011, 5:38 AM EST
Published : Tuesday, 22 Nov 2011, 5:26 AM EST
By The Sun
REDMOND, Wash. - Online crooks hacked into thousands of Xbox Live accounts in 35 countries to steal millions of dollars.
Bosses at Xbox Live operator Microsoft were probing the cyber thefts Monday night.
In one "phishing" con, crooks sent emails to players directing them to bogus websites offering free Microsoft points that can be used to buy games.
Victims then enter personal details that let criminals access accounts and get ahold of credit card information. Crooks take small amounts from credit cards over several weeks -- making them hard to detect.
Other victims lost money when passwords were accessed. Gamers only realized when their online profiles became "locked out" -- meaning someone else had used them.
The average loss to gamers in the 35 countries hit by the scam is around £100 ($156), but many lost £200.
Conmen also befriend players online and tricked them into volunteering personal details.
Microsoft will offer refunds if users prove they did not reveal passwords. Gamers should change passwords.
Earlier this year, 77 million PlayStation accounts were hacked into.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3950691/Gamers-caught-in-Xbox-cyber-fraud.html