Recently, after reading about how awesome AllOfMp3 was, on a reputable site, I figured I would give it a whirl. I was wary. For starters, it is a Russian run site, that although tight in look, feel, and catalog, still raises some eyebrows in terms of its legitimacy. However, itIS pay to play, and it had been endorsed by sites like TechCrunch, that I consider to be as in touch with these sorts of things as anyone…so I made the decision to forge ahead…cautiously.
Just to be safe, I made sure to use my Bank Of America Platinum Visa, a card that had no balance and that I only use in emergencies. It has a high limit, and given it’s lack of use, any odd charges that might arise after using it at AllOfMp3, would be easy to spot.
Well, Bank Of America beat me to the fraud detection and called me this morning to inform me that someone had dropped $3,700 at MrToys.com and another $2,400 at LexingtonJewelers (an on line purchase I was told) within the past 24 hours on that very card. There is not a shred of doubt in my mind as to what happened, since I haven’t used that card in months, save for this one single purchase on AllOfMp3 two or so weeks ago.
Now I know, shame on me for trusting AllOfMp3 with my credit card, and I get what I deserve, right? Maybe. But if nothing else, be forewarned that something fishy is going on over there. Either one of two things happened.
- AllofMp3 and the Ruskies behind it are doing something not so nice with their customer data.
- AllofMp3 is not that careful in protecting said data, and it was stolen from them.
Either way, lesson learned. If something seems a little sketchy, it probably is. And lesson #2, always use a non-debit card for net purchases. If that had been my cash card, it would have been a bit more painful. And credit though (no pun intended) to BOA for clearing this up so easily. Charges wiped, new card issued, back to normal.
26 Responses
mist.
May 3rd, 2006 at 2:53 pm
allofmp3 doesn’t have any information regarding your credit card; they use Chronopay as their payment vendor, who simply makes the transaction and then distributes the money to allofmp3. hence, your accusation is sensationally false.
Daniel
May 4th, 2006 at 1:38 am
I’ve been using AllOFMP3.com for some time and have not had an issue concerning the use of my credit card. As far as I understand they use a reputable company out of the Netherlands for their cc processing and, thus, never see the numbers. I’ve been keeping an eye on ALLOFMP3.com around the internet and have yet to see anything concerning fraud.
Are you sure that you don’t have some funky thing going on with your ‘puter that recorded your cc number strokes?
Either way, sorry to hear it.
Andrew
May 4th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Calling my accusation “sensationally false” is a bit extreme, no? I mean the circumstantial evidence, though circumstantial simply because I did not literally see the crime take place, is pretty strong.
I have a single card that I used for a single purchase. That single purchase being AllOfMp3. This card is quite literally kept in a safe in my apartment with other documents of importance, and other cards such as my Social Security card and what not. I am careful with this sort of thing.
So here is how it all plays out.
-I don’t use this card for months, online or off, for anything.
-I take the card out of the safe, and purchase $15 on AllOfMp3.com
-Card goes back into safe.
-2 weeks pass and I get a call from Bank Of America Fraud Detection
-Over $7,000 of fraudulent charges show up on the card.
Now, I know we love to think that AllOfMp3 is legit…shit, I want nothing more than for it to be legit, but something happened here, and it seems like there is pretty strong suspicion that AllOfMp3 is where the problems originated. Whether it was them, an employee of theirs, their payment company, or someone hacking into one of the systems, the bottom line is that I used a card there, and then I had my info stolen 2 weeks later. I had a bad feeling about this site, and it seemed to be correct.
With regards to the keystroke recording comment, no one has access to my machine but me. The thing is like Fort Knox with every spyware, firewall, router, etc…and I sweep it routinely for damaging programs.
Think about it, if you had the EXACT same experience, would you put your CC number into AllOfMp3 again? Would you recommend the site to your friends?
Daniel Medley
May 4th, 2006 at 11:23 am
I just find it difficult to believe that your, and your card only would be victimized by allofmp3.com. There are absolutely no other reported cases of ANY fraudulent behavior regarding regarding Chronopay. Chronopay, by the way, is certified by both MC and Visa and allofmp3.com never sees a cc number. What that means is that allofmp3.com couldn’t have been part of any fraud which leaves chronopay which doesn’t add up.
It is highly unlikely that Chronopay was part of any fraud. Expecting people to take your word over the tens of millions of trouble-free transactions via Chronopay is a bit absurd.
Now, I’m not saying you didn’t have a problem or that you are lying but I’m saying that the problem most likely rests with another party rather than Chronopay or Allofmp3.com
Daniel Medley
May 4th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Ah, I get it. You have been trolling the comments over at TechCrunch dissing Allofmp3.com and now you’re making your sob story up because you have a hardon for Allofmp3.
Sheese, get a life, weenie.
Andrew
May 4th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Daniel, you utter ignoramus. I understand that you clearly read at a 5th grade level, and seem to be one of those dime-a-dozen, hick-pride nitwits that gets off on writing pseudo inflammatory BS on your petty site that no one cares about, but try and follow along here.
Where on TechCrunch was I “dissing” AllOfMp3? If anything, all I did was send a track back (as is standard nerd protocol) in reference to their endorsing of the site, which initially led me to lay down my card. Also, the “hardon” (spelled “hard-on” actually) comment was a real head-scratcher. I literally have no idea what you are talking about. Your comments are not only poorly written and ill informed, but they bring nothing whatsoever to the conversation.
Two things.
One, answer my question honestly. If you had the EXACT same thing happen to you, same timeline, same several thousand dropped on your card, would you or would you not go back to the site and do it again? And two, under those same circumstances, would you or would you not recommend the site to friends?
Deal or no deal Daniel?
Daniel Medley
May 4th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
Seems I’ve struck a sensitive chord with you, weenie.
About the deal; knowing what I know about allofmp3.com and chronopay, I’d be checking into other avenues for sure because the likelyhood of the fault being with either is next to nill. That’s IF it really happened which, I’m thinking it didn’t. Based on your blithering idiocy in response, it appears to be a pretty good assumption. You provide absolutely NO proof other than your words which mean nothing. You make accusations without backing them up.
For what it’s worth, I don’t give a damn what you think about my site. My site isn’t the issue even though you seem to be trying to somehow make it so to some degree. That’s a tactic of someone who is full of bullshit.
If informing you of the reasons that Chronopay and allofmp3.com are probably not the source of your fraud does not “bring something to the conversation” than you really are a dolt who is interested in only dissing allofmp3.com.
Now, shut yer pie hole and get yourself a crying towel.
Daniel Medley
May 4th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
And, since you’re on the kick of dissing another’s site; at least I don’t post the same drival twice RE: Reilly Not On MySpace’s Friends List.
Fool.
Andrew
May 4th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Your over-use of the word “weenie” not only creeps me out, but also shows your absolute inability to even be even moderately creative in slinging your 2nd grade insults. I seriously feel cheated time-wise having even engaged in such an absurd “debate” with a Hawaiian shirt wearing…shit, what is it? Utah-an? Ute? Utard? I don’t even know.
ANYWAYS, enjoy the un-contested space below this comment, ’cause as much as I would like to continue to get into it with you, I am going to grant you the last word here. On my own site no less.
So lube up good, slide your self down onto the throbbing shaft of AllOfMp3.com, and enjoy the ride. Just clean up after yourself, ok? Ok.
Daniel Medley
May 4th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Waahhhaaaa … Waaahhhhhhaaaaa…. Here, have a crying towel.
More personal attacks because you are unable to back up your bullshit.
Later, fool.
bob
May 8th, 2006 at 9:32 am
andrew, i was stung (allofmp3) for 5 thousand bucks on my american express card, let them find out on their own why try to warn complete idiots?
P. Tard
May 9th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
NERD FIGHT!!!
marvin
May 9th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
I’m loving this. Better than a cat fight!
James
May 11th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Andrew
I was about to subscribe to Allofmp3 - navigated to the ChronoPay page no less - when I decided to perform a Google search on both Allofmp3 and ChronoPay. No hits regarding fraud or legitimacy of Allofmp3.
However, when I typed “Problem with ChronoPay” you blog was listed.
Thanks for the warning. I am now going to stay clear of Allofmp3 and ChronoPay.
Doug
May 13th, 2006 at 3:28 am
The only transaction on the internet I use my card for is Allofmp3, and I have just been notified by my card co that there are transactions that I have not authorised, for about £500. Has to be a leak at the russian site,and all this is just recent and why can’t you order music from them at the moment, I think they have a leak and know about it.
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May 15th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
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murugesh
May 16th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
I’ve used AllOfmp3.com fore a year or so, the latest in early 2004. I wanted to recharge today and download some music.
But i’m not able to Refill. Also Order Music is not available.
Can anyone advice what’s up with the site?
Thanks
Jesse
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Andrew! Your full of bullcrap! Mr. Daniel has it right here. You are a FOOL!!!!! If you ever use allofmp3.com, make SURE you use xrost(which is endorsed by mc and visa). The russians never see your data and your protected from fraud. I truly hope that your foolhardy nature will cause you to wake up and smell the coffee, don’t blame anyone else…this is YOUR OWN DANG FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!
mrrrl
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:46 am
Hey Bob they don’t take American Express.
bob Says (May 8th, 2006 at 9:32 am):
andrew, i was stung (allofmp3) for 5 thousand bucks on my american express card, let them find out on their own why try to warn complete idiots?
luke
October 14th, 2006 at 2:39 am
allofmp3 makes 30 million a year. why would they want to take your lousy cc number for 7 thousand. they risk too much of the 30 million in revenue they make legit. (legit as in authorised). its kinda good to have a good rep in a 30 million dollar business. hey… scan your computer for a keystroke recorder.
Mike
October 20th, 2006 at 7:28 am
I found out last night that my CC details have been used fraudulently. I’m also convinced that it has come from the use of allofmp3 or chronopay as I use various methods to be able to track such usage. I’ve also received very imappropriate spam to an email address that was ONLY used on the chronopay site. This is absolute proof that either Chronopay have given my email address away, had it stolen or are using it to spam people themselves. Coincidently I also found out yesterday that VISA and MASTERCARD have stopped allowing transactions at allofmp3, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6065492.stm. I wonder if they have just begun to make money in another way?
Techlinks
November 7th, 2006 at 4:59 am
OK…so I got punked as well. Citibank fraud detection called this afternoon that someone put $5,000 on my card. A card I never use elsewhere; one I picked precisely for AllOfMp3 because I was a bit weary of them. Oh well, you learn.
Bob
July 6th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I done the same thing.Used a card ONLY for allofmp3.com because I wasn’t sure.
I haven’t had any problems at all.
A lot sounds fishy here.
using American express?They don’t accept it.FALSE.
For the OP,it sounds as though you had better have a look at your computer.
You are probally using windows,aren’t you.
andrew
July 9th, 2007 at 10:23 am
@Bob
Not Amex, and just because one (or other cards) that are all linked via a site like AllOfMp3, are dinged with fraud charges doesn’t mean ALL cards used on that site are.
As most of the commenters, you didn’t really read (or you read, and didn’t comprehend) the post. My allegation is that somewhere in the transaction process, someone (chronopay, allofmp3, etc) is not protecting data as they should, and that the circumstantial evidence is strong…but still circumstantial.
james
November 12th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
No one has asked this common sense question…..
If someone at chronopay or allofmp3.com got ahold of your CC#, then why would that person purchase from stores located in the United States? (lexington jewelers is located in NY and MrToys is located in New Jersey)
obviously your locked down computer is not so locked down….
andrew
November 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
@James
When a CC is stolen, it is not generally the initial “stealer” that makes the purchases. Info is brokered and sold to others who then use the compromised information to make online purchases, so though it is a decent point, it really isn’t as “common sense” as you might think.
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