FRAUD ALERT: Be on the lookout for ADY*Spotify USA charges

[Rickajho]

I just got hit today with a pending charge on my Chase Freedom card from:

ADY*Spotify USA $9.99​

This is not a vaping related anything - it's allegedly a music download service. Hell, I never heard of it before and didn't know what it was until I looked it up while on hold waiting to speak to the fraud department at Chase.

I can't find specifics about what the real issues are. But what I did learn from the complaints I see:

1.) The problem is far from an isolated incident, making you wonder how much of Spotify is a real music download service or how much of it is blatant credit card fraud hacking hiding behind the guise of an allegedly legitimate company.

2.) People who actually signed up for the service sometimes get double charged for the same account. Or attempting to cancel your account can create additional monthly subscription charges rather than stopping them.

3.) By far the largest number of complaints are from people being charged who have never heard of the service, let alone visited the web site.

4.) There seems to be a disproportionately large number of these "never heard of it" fraud complaints from holders of Chase credit and debit cards. Kind of makes you wonder what the Spotify - Chase connection is, but unless something goes public we will never know if there even is a connection. However, based on the complaints out there it appears Chase cardholders should be especially watchful for these fraud charges from Spotify.

5.) The complaints seem to be on the increase since the first of the year.

People have reported the fraud amounts are coming through as amounts from 99 cents all the way up to $29.99 - and with multiple transactions during a billing cycle. So do not ignore a "trifling" 99 cent Spotify charge you do not recognize as it could mushroom into a lot more.

As always - pay attention to your accounts and jump on any charge you do not recognize.

 

[Stacy1]

Thanks for the heads up Rickajho!!

 

[Ryedan]

Appreciate the heads up Rick

 

[kkay59]

If I'm not mistaken, Chase had a security breach a few months ago. This could be criminals charging small amounts to your card, to see if it is legit, and will go through. I would change your card number, before they charge something much greater on your card. Your number might have been sold on the black market. I cannot stand these people who would do that. Better safe, than sorry. Thanks for the heads up as well.

 

[bullet08]

last 6 months, my bank changed my debt card twice. some of the "big merchant" has had someone stealing their data. so they cut off my card without telling me, and got me embarrassed at gas station and mickey d. but good thing they caught it before someone used it.

 

[Underwhelmed]

Spotify is a legitimate music streaming service like Pandora. Think of it as Netflix for music. Not a download site at all, and actually it is free to use unless you upgrade to avoid hearing the commercials. I have a co-worker who has been using it for over a year.

I use Pandora myself. I also always use pre-paid subscription cards for these types of services instead of giving them my credit card info.

Sounds like someone stole your card data if you didn't sign up.

 

[WattWick]

Thanks for the warning! Will keep an eye on my accounts.

Not that I'm a Spotify fanboy... but it is a major, well respected company. At some point, and to some point still - Spotify is music streaming. Maybe slightly less so in the US than in Europe as it started in Sweden. I do not believe the fault lies with them. There is no way they can charge your card without having your CC data.

Do you have any way of veryfying that the ADY*Spotify USA actually is Spotify? Or just some account name to make it look like it? Either way, as kkay pointed out, it is likely the first 'probe' to check if the account is active. Either way, get in touch with the bank and tell them to hit the panic button or whatever they do to prevent further damage.

 

[Rickajho]

Spotify is a legitimate music streaming service like Pandora. Think of it as Netflix for music. Not a download site at all, and actually it is free to use unless you upgrade to avoid hearing the commercials. I have a co-worker who has been using it for over a year.

I use Pandora myself. I also always use pre-paid subscription cards for these types of services instead of giving them my credit card info.

Sounds like someone stole your card data if you didn't sign up.

Of course somehow the card data was stolen. But it's rather boggling to see how many of these fraud charges are being transacted on Spotify. And even worse is Spotify's "deer in the headlights, "don't know nuthin'", "let's ask stupid question you cannot answer" responses to the fraud complaints when people try to work with them at the consumer level.

 

[crxess]

Of course somehow the card data was stolen. But it's rather boggling to see how many of these fraud charges are being transacted on Spotify. And even worse is Spotify's "deer in the headlights, "don't know nuthin'", "let's ask stupid question you cannot answer" responses to the fraud complaints when people try to work with them at the consumer level.

I think you missed the posters point.
It is not to hard to realize when your company has been Hacked, but not so simple to pin down Fraudulent Purchasing with Legitimate accounts.
That would be like holding a Bank responsible for customers Depositing Stolen Money. How would the Bank know the money is Stolen?
The Criminal is simply using Legitimate Business to Test Charge Card #'s to verify they are still active. The Next BIG Charge is the one you need to worry about.

*and yes, you will read Bad comments on the Companies the charges went through. PEOPLE need someone to Blame.

 

[WattWick]

They choose well-known services for a reason. It's simply to increase the chances of you being an actual subscriber and overlook the deduction.