Microsoft Corp. insists the online service associated with the Xbox 360 video-game console did not experience a security breach despite some United Kingdom consumers who say they fell victim to a phishing scam tied to the system.
“Xbox Live has not been hacked,” Microsoft said in a press release to news outlets. “Microsoft can confirm that there has been no breach to the security of our Xbox Live service.”
The Sun newspaper in the UK reported thousands of Xbox Live users fell victim to a phishing scam that promised free Microsoft Points, which are used to purchase and download games, movies and music. Xbox Live users in 35 countries reportedly were victimized by the scam.
Fraudsters accessed gamers’ credit card information after they obtained login information for Xbox Live accounts, the Sun reported. The criminals spent small amounts on each credit card they accessed.
The Sun estimates Xbox Live users lost an average of £100 (US$156.35 and 115 euros). Some consumer lost £200.
Earlier this month, Valve Corp., the company that provides the popular PC game platform Steam, revealed that it experienced a data breach (
Sony Corp. in April reported its PlayStation Network also experienced a breach that affected some 12 million credit and debit cards (
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