Stolen Account - A Real Life WarningFollow

Hello Fellow Shiva Players,

This is Buffylvr, wanting to give everyone a warning from first hand knowledge. Having your account stolen HURTS!!! Recently, while I was in the process of moving, someone managed to access my account and change the password. Because of the move, it was several weeks before I tried to log in again and realized there was a problem. And before 63549832185 posts happen about how they got my password, I just don't know. Perhaps it was just straight out hacked? Maybe. Maybe I accidentally left the password in on a Cyber Cafe I played at? Possibly, but I normally log in under guest login when I do that. Maybe someone has 'ghosted' my machine, and is able to see passwords I enter for gaming and so forth? Anything is possible. Maybe someone intercepted an E-mail between a friend and I that had the login info in it? Sure. But, that isn't what this is about.

This is just a warning. Change your password, maybe as often as once a month. Many online banking services and retirement companies (401-k) like Prudential and NationsBank recommend that your change your passwords once a month to avoid having someone 'force' your account by using programs that try every combination of letters and numbers over time. Obviously, for me at least, this applies to FFXI now too.

Warning! If you have a weak stomach, don't read the upcoming list! For the truly morbid of you (or those of you that bought from that DAMMED "1/2 off from AH bazaar" on my character on Saturday), here is a list of everything good that was sold off my charcter:
1. Monster Signa
2. Mary's Horn
3. Wind Torque
4. Melody Earring x2
5. Errant Hoppelaude (or however it's spelled)
6. Wood Gloves
7. Loyalty Ring x2
8. Jester Cape +1
9. Corsette +1
10. Errant Slops
11. Triple Dagger
12. Lust Dagger
13. Emporers Hairpin
14. Drone Earring x2
15. Sniper Ring x2
16. Balance Ring x2
17. Leaping Boots
18. Astral Ring x2
19. The Entire RSE Female Elvish Magna Set(The All-White One) (This might hurt the most, cause I quested for it and is nearly impossible to get at the AH)
20. Levelled my thief down from 64 to 61 (That's like 80k exp-how do you do that even by trying?)

I haven't done the math on that yet, but I'm sure it's a silly amount of gil. And for those of you thinking about flaming me and saying I didn't have all that, check with my LS (Great Linkshell-Sector VII Slums) first, they will back me up.

Morale of the story? Don't give out your password if you are unprepared to deal with the consequences of having something like this happen. The good news? As of this morning, before server maintanence, I got my account back thanks to Technical Assistance from Playonline. This game is all about the people you play with, and luckily I have a great linkshell and great friends in-game. I'm glad that I don't know the prick who damaged my account the way they did, cause I don't want to know or be around people who think that actions like that are 'fun'.

Also, let me take this chance to say mad props to the players in game that took the time to call GMs and ask for their help when they knew it wasn't me on my account. Also, for the players who have made the game fun for me and taught me how to help others out in an online game:

Erick-always helps out, every time, never heard him say no.
Nikko and Kato-Helped me get thief AF3 when they didn't know me that well and sent me /tells when they found out what was going on--although I'm still mad you guys left us for DL. ><
Alpha, Alucart, Ganimer- For calling a GM even though I already had and they said they couldn't help, thanks for the try.
Valron-For letting me in the LS in the first place. Um, someone threw my pearlsack away, can I have another? ^^
Jen-Super awesome, her hubby Harrison is a nice guy too.
Astrael-Don't think there is a nicer 'Dark' Knight on the server.
Sanoshin-for spamming the person who stole the account with tells until he would talk to me. Um, now can we try to get Fenrir?
Smartguy-For offering to buy everything in my bazaar. Thanks for the thought.
Technofire-Yeah, you're away at shcool and prolly won't even read this, but for letting me use your account when mine was unavaible this past week-end.

I know there are people who I haven't mentioned, and I'm sorry. I'll see you guys online, and keep your account safe!

Buffylvr

Wow that really sucks. I hope you sort everything out and get to the bottom of it.

As to how it got hacked, I really wouldn't play on anymore cyber Cafe's. Any creep could just log in there and set up a Ghost thing to moniter PW's and such, and that's my best guess as to how it occured. I get virus's left right and side ways (thanks to PC illiterates that use my PC, thank god for AVG) and I've never had an account hacked into. I'm not at all flaming you, just trying to figure out how it could have happened. Good luck into getting back on your feet, and hopefully that guy gets his karma back in 50-fold.

Buffylvr, if there is any equipment that i can craft for you as a 53 smith i will be more than happy to make it for you. From looking at the equipment that was stolen im not sure if this can help, but if there is anything you need smithed send me a tell.

Mobond

That's just wrong! It sucks to see good, hardworking players get ripped off like that.

As terranova said, i was hacked and so was lokina on the 5th. From me they got Emp Pin, Leaping Boots, 2x Drone Earrings, 2x Balance Rings, 2x Scorpion Rings+1, Battle Gloves (not much but still gone lol) and from Lokina they got her Gluttony Sword and 2x Drone Earrings.

The best part is that all of these items stolen from us on the 5th were ALL SOLD BY THE SAME PERSON on that very same day. I mean how obvious is that.

Lokina and myself both contacted GM's and they pretty much said "It is against Square Enix policy to return or refund and items or gil of any kind for any reason" Then proceded to tell us that this person would be punished (which i know he wont).

Why the **** do they even have GM's in this game when they do NOTHING and mean nothing.

Hey Terranova :) I partied with you yesterday in the dunes, I thought you were Japanese/HK o.O

Anyways, I'm sorry about your account Buffy /comfort -- It definately made me think about my computer's security... I dunno what I'd do if someone got into my account and messed around.

Edited, Wed Sep 8 14:07:18 2004 by RustyCaps

If anyone here is able to make/help me farm for some of the items that i lost i would GREATLY appriciate it. Also if you need any help buffy i would be glad to help you camp things like signa and marys horn. When i pty with you in Qufim you were so godly lol. You made my ninja the main dmg dealer in the pty lol.

{Mithra} {No Thanks} {Too Weak}

Well all the AH said was Dirtyde... cuz his name was too long so it cut it off. My buddy Dolmen did some research and found out that the guy has 3 chars. Dirtydevil, Dirtydevel, and Grit. Im not sure if this is 100% accurate but why would Dolmen like to me lol. and thanks to my whole ls who all of them contacted Gm's to ***** and get my stuff back, but to no avail lol.

AH HA!

Need I say more?

OMG! I saw u when u had those in bazaar or w/e i think! I just ran by and didnt pay much attention cause i was low lvled kinda and didnt need any of the items. Sorry it happened man.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
I still remember our avatar runs and that wonderful chocobo mazurka you gave me :)
This type of stuff is BS....I would love to know one of these hackers in RL. They wouldn't be able to even move a finger when I get done with them! Same for those lame people that write virus'...stupid people that can't write real programs.
Let me know if there is anything you need.

Kataran