Fraud... TikTok taking money from account

Elaine853

Hi - I've noticed odd activity on my bank statement within last 24 hours from TikTok LIVE Coins - 7 transactions for the same amount made late at night on the same night.  I've never heard of this before but assume its digital currency.

This seems to be a common occurrence when I Googled it.

I don't have a TikTok account but Google authorised these payments. 

Luckily I managed, after 2 hours of going around in circles, to speak to a fraud officer at the bank who froze my account etc


Has anyone had a similar issue with these LIVE Coins?  I've been on Google Play and TikTok but can find no information regarding the payments but, as I've said, when I Googled it, lots of other people had posted similar incidents with some losing thousands.

Can anyone advise me on what I should do now - should I uninstall Google Play?  

Can anyone throw any light on what might have opened me up to these payments being taken?  I play a few games on my phone from apps i.e. Candy Crush, word games but I don't buy anything via these apps.

I am in a state of panic that even if I have a new account these companies might continue to charge me fraudulently.   


  

eskbanker

Elaine853 said:

Google authorised these payments

What does this mean?  You're referring to Google Play, but do you also use Google Pay?

What type of transactions are they, i.e. do they show as debit card payments or direct accesses via a continuous payment authority perhaps?

Elaine853

Yes, Google Pay authorised the payments;  I pay for photo storage on Google for £1.99 per month but that is all. 

It says an automatic payment has been set up directly out of my bank  account.  It literally only started last night - the transactions appeared at 9.15pm - I wasn't online as I was with friends.    

Eyeful

1. TikTok Coins are a virtual “in-app” currency that can be used to do various things on the platform,
2. Have you contacted Google Pay to tell them about this & remove the authorisation. 
3. Can you get Google Pay to block future TikTok payment requests?
4. Have you checked all the apps on your phone to see what permissions you have granted them?
5. Have you recently run some form of security software, to see if any malware may have found its way onto the phone?
6. Do you use 2FA on your Gmail or Google accounts.
7. Are you able to check Gmail or Google accounts to see if anyone has attempted to access them?

Elaine853

Eyeful said:

1. TikTok Coins are a virtual “in-app” currency that can be used to do various things on the platform,
2. Have you contacted Google Pay to tell them about this & remove the authorisation. 
3. Can you get Google Pay to block future TikTok payment requests?
4. Have you checked all the apps on your phone to see what permissions you have granted them?
5. Have you recently run some form of security software, to see if any malware may have found its way onto the phone?
6. Do you use 2FA on your Gmail or Google accounts.
7. Are you able to check Gmail or Google accounts to see if anyone has attempted to access them?

Wow thanks so much for these points.  I have now removed the authorisation but I can't find out why they deducted all these transactions in the first place.  I have frozen by bank account so any further payments are blocked.  I have also reported this as fraud to the bank.
I haven't run any security software.
I don't know what 2FA is?
What kind of apps would I need to check permissions on - games?  I only have 3 games and i've had them for a long time.

Eyeful

1. (a) 2FA= Two Factor Authorisation.
     (b) Also sometimes called 2SV (Two Step Verification)
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/activate-2-step-verification-on-your-email

2. I believe the handbook for your particular phone should find how to check what permissions have been granted to your apps.
You might even find a video of how to do it on you tube.

3. There are some, who think you do not need extra security software on mobile phones the same way you need it on Windows OS.
However, if it come free, with very recommendation from Which?, you may as well give it a try (see below)
Sophos Intercept X for mobiles: https://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/mobile-control/intercept-x
Which? :  https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/antivirus-software-packages/article/best-mobile-antivirus-software-aRB4g3D1qN3E#best-free-mobile-antivirus

M25

I use Google for YouTube but as mentioned I've added the extra security requiring payment (I have a fingerprint set up). I also use Google Pay on Android I'm sure there's slightly different settings regarding security.

Best thing would be to add a 2nd card to your Google with very little in it (set a standing order to £2.00 to go in monthly) then make it your  default card and then delete the original payment card.

I have no idea what Tik Tok coins are and certainly don't want to either

km1500

I personally refuse to add any card to google and use samsung pay instead of google pay for that very reason.

flaneurs_lobster

M25 said:

I use Google for YouTube but as mentioned I've added the extra security requiring payment (I have a fingerprint set up). I also use Google Pay on Android I'm sure there's slightly different settings regarding security.

Best thing would be to add a 2nd card to your Google with very little in it (set a standing order to £2.00 to go in monthly) then make it your  default card and then delete the original payment card.

I have no idea what Tik Tok coins are and certainly don't want to either

I've just taken this thread as a warning and have replaced my payment methods on both my Google account and Google Play with a Tesco+ prepay card with £2 on it.