WARNING: Xbox Live Points Exploit

V

vader1671

CAGiversary!
Feedback
6 (100%)
I'm not sure whether this has been posted before, I couldn't find it after searching for a while.

There were a couple of threads in the deals forum about some guy selling xbox live codes on ebay for a fantastic knock down price. Catch was that the codes the guy sold were a bunch of 160 point codes. I do know some people decided to pull the trigger.

Well, once again, we realize that what sounds too good to be true, usually is. The mass of 160 point codes were created by an exploit. Microsoft seems to be going to cancel these codes and ban the users.

For thos CAGers who bought and used them, I really suggest contacting Microsoft with the ebay information.

http://kotaku.com/#!5780686/microsoft-invalidates-stolen-point-codes-considers-punishment-for-exploiters
 
[quote name='Necrozilla']I'll sue C.A.G. for slander and deformation.[/QUOTE]

PHew, good thing you aren't suing CAG.
And how exactly were you deformed?
 
Yah I knew this was coming too......I can see M$ putting the hammer down on anyone who used these codes.

Glad it won't be me
 
[quote name='vader1671']
...For thos CAGers who bought and used them, I really suggest contacting Microsoft with the ebay information.

http://kotaku.com/#!5780686/microsoft-invalidates-stolen-point-codes-considers-punishment-for-exploiters[/QUOTE]

That would be the dumbest thing you can do.
If it were me, I would buy all the content that I want with said points. If there's a punishment, then let them decide how they're going to do it, after I've spent them, and the content is on my machine.

All that said, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
 
In order to track the fake codes Microsoft would need to have a list of which ones were fake, a list they probably don’t have. They’d also then have to spend time going through the transaction records locating the codes and the Live account they were redeemed for. That is going to take time and employees will have to be paid to do it. Then action would have to be taken against the account holder and any repercussions from that.

For $1.2 million it’s worth doing the work, but I don’t know if Microsoft is willing to spare the resources to carry it out, especially if there’s a chance they can’t get the points and content back. I’d be more concerned about fixing the problem that allowed used codes to be re-used in this way so as to stop it ever happening again.
Click to expand...

Source.

"Hackers" didn't magically pull codes out of some sort of algorithm, they just exploited a loophole in an online contest. A lot like that German link for free Banshee avatar props. People legitimately got 160 Points from the same source that the fraudulent ones came from, so how can Microsoft really tell the difference? Besides, there were probably a decent amount of people who were naive enough to believe that these eBay sales were legitimate.

They should learn from their mistake, make sure it won't happen again, and move on from it.
 
Doesn't mean they can't debit your account and remove their value from your account in MSP.

Just because they don't have a CC on file with them doesn't mean they can't dock your account for the point redemptions. They have a list of the codes applied to your account, and it's visible on the billing site that's accessible from your account information. They could easily dock anyone that redeemed a 160 points code in a date range, regardless if they have a positive point balance or not.
 
I just saw this and my stomach sank. I really wish whoever shut down the original thread had kept it up/stickied it and put a warning in the title so I could've saw what transpired overnight in that first thread before I actually used any of the points.

I really hope they don't ban for this, I'll be glad to pay for the points I've used.
 
I wonder if microsoft lawyers can argue that the points were stolen property and apply stolen property laws to the people who purchased them.

While I don't want CAGs to be ripped off, this should be a good lesson to people. If it's too good to be true, it is. Don't buy it.
 
[quote name='HeSaveDave']
1244192455035.jpg
[/QUOTE] Man, I miss Farley.

[quote name='confoosious']I wonder if microsoft lawyers can argue that the points were stolen property and apply stolen property laws to the people who purchased them.

While I don't want CAGs to be ripped off, this should be a good lesson to people. If it's too good to be true, it is. Don't buy it.[/QUOTE]
They probably could argue that the points were stolen property, but what would that get them? I really don't know anything about it. I don't mine being ripped off by the Ebay seller personally, I just don't want to get banned from LIVE.
 
I bought 4,000 points, I actually used 2,000 of them before I heard about them being stolen, or gotten through the exploit or whatever.
 
[quote name='CaptainJoel']Yeah, I don't think they can really do anything either, I'm just a worrier is all.[/QUOTE]

lol me too. A pessimist. But you have nothing to worry about, my friend. :bouncy:
 
I saw the original thread, considered purchasing some, and then passed. Glad I did, regardless of what Microsoft eventually does/doesn't do.
 
eBay will probably delete all proof that the seller sold so many points if enough complaints are filed. It would put all of the buyers' accounts in more jeopardy, by eliminating proof of what happened to shed eBay's liability. The listings would be deleted and the seller would likely be banned. The seller should be punished immensely, but it may be best to preserve him and his auction listings until the fallout occurs.

If Microsoft were to delve into the points situation with any finesse, it could impede the chance of them sparing the oblivious buyers' accounts who bought the tainted points unaware on eBay, if Microsoft decided to take real action.

The numbers were also revised for the value of the incident, with the whole thing equating to about $140,000, according to one source.

Also remember that if claims are filed en masse, the eBay seller and the records will be essentially wiped from the records if the claims succeed, making the buyers seem at fault for having codes regarding the incident, with no proof of the one guy who peddled 2.5 thousand bum codes to hundreds of people. I'd wait until more is known.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think that people that bought the codes may not be in for a good ride. Last year I purchased two zune marketplace cards from Amazon (after a post on cag..they were like $12 for 1600 points). I received them, looked them over and put them on shelf until I needed them. The only thing unusual about them was the sticker that said promotional product. Fast forward about a year when I went to redeem them. The codes could not be redeemed. Called CS and they couldn't figure it out and keep escalating the case (The rep said they were valid codes) Finally, got to a department that said they were expired. I explained to the rep that they had no expiration date printed on them. They did more research and said well "these were promo cards and expired on xx/xx/2010." I proceeded to repeat that there was no date printed on them and no mention of expiration on the vendors website. Their position was that promo cards were not supposed to be resold and they would not honor them period. So I could not redeem 3200 worth of points despite being a huge marketplace spender because in their mind the cards were invalid due to being resold. So if they were willing to lose a customer (who thought he purchased a valid and legit product) I don't think they would hesitate to void/closer live accounts of people using fraudulent points. In the end Amazon customer service stood behind the products they sold and made me right without any questions despite being over 60 days since I had purchased them.
 
[quote name='vivafriend5']eBay will probably delete all proof that the seller sold so many points if enough complaints are filed. It would put all of the buyers' accounts in more jeopardy, by eliminating proof of what happened to shed their eBay's liability. The listings would be deleted and the seller would likely be banned. The seller should be punished immensely, but it may be best to preserve him and his auction listings until the fallout occurs.

If Microsoft were to delve into the points situation with any finesse, it could impede the chance of them sparing the oblivious buyers' accounts who bought the tainted points unaware on eBay, if Microsoft decided to take real action.

The numbers were also revised for the value of the incident, with the whole thing equating to about $140,000, according to one source.

Also remember that if claims are filed en masse, the eBay seller and the records will be essentially wiped from the records if the claims succeed, making the buyers seem at fault for having codes regarding the incident, with no proof of the one guy who peddled 2.5 thousand bum codes to hundreds of people. I'd wait until more is known.[/QUOTE]
I don't know who actually sold that many on Ebay, the original guy that was posted on CAG only sold to 21 people (including myself).

And I don't know about anyone else, but I haven't filed any claims yet on Ebay or Paypal.
 
I saw this deal and was tempted to partake, but it sounded too good to be true.

I have coworker who ordered over 4000 of the points. He got a hell of a deal, but there's a good chance it's all going to disappear. I suspect an influx of eBay claims being made against the seller after everyone gets banned/points removed.
 
I don't see what M$ will do to people who bought them. People bought them and redeemed them and they worked. Sure buyers probably could put together something was strange/shady but that's not there problem. I can't see them even removing the points from your accounts.

To be safe I would spend them though. Wish I could have gotten my hands on some of these.
 
It's a tough situation. Can Microsoft punish individuals who purchased the points through outside channels, such as eBay, not knowing that the points were shady?

I would imagine Microsoft would be more after the sellers than the buyers.
 
[quote name='utopianmachine']It's a tough situation. Can Microsoft punish individuals who purchased the points through outside channels, such as eBay, not knowing that the points were shady?

I would imagine Microsoft would be more after the sellers than the buyers.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. I feel like the sellers and the people who added 10,000 or other crazy totals to their account will be targeted. Like someone said earlier, if you redeemed them, best spend them before the hammer comes down.
 
Seeing as MS are saying that no were near $1.2 million was lost, I doubt they'll do much to the people who bought codes.

It would be too much bad PR for them if loads of people who bought codes on Ebay suddenly lost them or were retroactively billed or some garbage like that.

I'll bet MS just write this one off as a lesson learned.
 
it was obvious and good thing I didn't buy any
there was no exploitable promotion going on handing out 160 point codes
so these had to be generated
 
[quote name='CaptainJoel']I don't know who actually sold that many on Ebay, the original guy that was posted on CAG only sold to 21 people (including myself).

And I don't know about anyone else, but I haven't filed any claims yet on Ebay or Paypal.[/QUOTE] I think the OP of the thread linked to different sellers throughout the night. This guy is the one I was thinking of. I just mentioned filing complaints due to the fact another thread was going crazy and gonna start in tandem.

He's a real gent. I looked him up. He's been involved in numerous scams and is so deep in it. Please, gentle Microsoft, spare all the innocents buyers he bilked and get him hard, he took at least 2524 codes, equating to $5048. Get all of those sellers.
 
[quote name='vivafriend5']I think the OP of the thread linked to different sellers throughout the night. This guy is the one I was thinking of. I just mentioned filing complaints due to the fact another thread was going crazy and gonna start in tandem.

He's a real gent. I looked him up. He's been involved in numerous scams and is so deep in it. Please, gentle Microsoft, spare all the innocents buyers he bilked and get him hard, he took at least 2524 codes, equating to $5048. Get all of those sellers.[/QUOTE]
Wow, that guy's seller profile is pretty crazy, I can't believe so many people just bought single 160 msp codes. Knowing now that so many people bought them, I'm betting that MS will probably just not worry about the people that bought/used a few and mainly target the people that used a ridiculous amount of codes.
 
[quote name='CaptainJoel']Wow, that guy's seller profile is pretty crazy, I can't believe so many people just bought single 160 msp codes. Knowing now that so many people bought them, I'm betting that MS will probably just not worry about the people that bought/used a few and mainly target the people that used a ridiculous amount of codes.[/QUOTE] So many people have been involved, some aware, some not. At this point, if any punishments is served, there will be hundreds of innocent people caught in the storm, who did nothing but buy some prick's listing on eBay who had glowing feedback.

They should find those that propagated the actual "exploit", like the people on the other forums who gave explicit instruction and the people who sold the points for profit. They should probably ream eBay too. They have caused and aided in so much Microsoft gaming fraud, like point-loaded stolen accounts, bum keys, bum codes, and general thievery.
 
I doubt they'll do anything to most people, maybe people who redeemed a crap load of codes will get punished. I didn't buy any just because I didn't want to support other thieves when I could've stolen the codes myself. Just feels like I'm getting ripped off.
 
I don't see them doing too much, maybe deducting the points if anything. Have any bans been confirmed yet? Has something similar happened in the past?
 
[quote name='topplehat']I don't see them doing too much, maybe deducting the points if anything. Have any bans been confirmed yet? Has something similar happened in the past?[/QUOTE]

I haven't heard anything. If bans go out I don't think it will be people who redeemed some codes. If people get banned it will more likely be people caught selling them or people in the threads when it was going on posting posting pics of their gamertags and ms point balance saying, "look how many I got from using the exploit!"
 
People who abused the promotion and applied multiples of these codes to their account can expect action taking against their account. C'mon, it was an obvious scam and now people are trying to cover themselves and act innocent like they had no idea it was a scam. I saw a few threads go up about this type of deal and I always said not to trust it and to accept the consequences later on if something happened and went down. So now that it's come around to that time, everyone wants to run and hide, claiming innocence. It's already been done so let it be, just continue to enjoy xbl and if they get you so be it and if not then move along.

By the way, they can deduct the points off your account if they want, they can suspend/ban your account and do more. But again, this is likely more for the people who abused this and applied multiple codes. 800 ms points redeemed i don't think they would do anything to you, but if it's obvious that you all of a sudden have 10,000 ms points on your account and all are from the scam then expect action to be taken. That's a little too obvious by the way.
 
I didn't buy any of the points, but I wouldn't be worried about getting banned or having anything taken from your account. A lot of people here still have free Gold memberships through March 2013 (which was the max length from the time of the promo) from the Netflix promo last year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top