There is a small chance your PC is compromised too Chuck. I know it sounds a bit over the top, but I would consider re-installing PC’s with fresh Windows that you usually use, e.g. get the USB install, pull the network plug, reinstall and patch up. A keylogger on a 0-day windows vulnerability could be installed, just as a way to gather passwords or SteamGuard codes. While it’s more likely it probably from one of the more recent social media site hacks (possible shared passwords, we all do it), it would be annoying to get your account back only for this to happen again.
Paying him (and as former LEO I know you know this already), is likely pointless; you’d basically be trusting a criminal not to do it again or come back for more, which would make them a crappy criminal…
Yeah, my first thought too. The Virtual World: where people do/say things they wouldn’t in person (because they’d face real, physical, consequences). He (she?) probably drives like an arse too.
Shame that Steam support often seems to be such a nightmare when stuff like that happens. You’d think having at least adequate customer support should be a given for a company that big and profitable. That being said my own experience with steam support was okay.
Not quite the same as getting your account stolen, but the phone I used for 2FA broke last year and I had forgotten to change my backup phone number to the new one (old number hadn’t been in use for over 5 years at that point) so I was locked out of my account.
Steam support was pretty quick to help and I think I got my account back after 2 days which I thought was reasonable as it included sending proof of identity.
Pretty weird how that hacker was able to take over the account so quickly though (if 2FA really was enabled).
Please provide details about the issue you are having:
Hello,
I have a friend (@Magnum50) who’s Steam account along with a huge library of >games was stolen by a Russian hacker. For a week he has fruitlessly searched >for a human at Valve to help him get his account back. In support I will purchase >nothing until you all recover his account. Thank you.
Good luck Magnum for sure you will have your situation sorted out. I had some steam friend that were hacked and after some frustration and stress all things are good now. One of the schemes to get hacked is when someone from your friends list (with an account already hacked) request you do a favor to go to a site and vote for a friends clan in a shooter competition. That site requires steam login and then they collect your account details and using your steam account to later catch other victim. I had some friends that falled in that sh…ty scheme…
Steam sometimes in support spend months to reply but always reply. But i agree, for such a huge company they could have much better support. For example EA were everyone calls them evil and turd company, have easily reached live chat were you can fix in live many EA account situations and game related situations and ubisoft also with phone call. Valve is use a form in website and then pray the Lord and die waiting. Some support messages i received their feedback after months when i already forgot about them.
PS: never ever login using your steam account in any place that is not the steam client or official steam website, never!
Thanks everyone… got the account back this AM. Hacked by a Russian, sold to someone in France. I got the phone security thing set up now, just had the email thing before then they simply changed the email.
Just wondering… those of you who submitted a ticket for me, did they reply or offer to help? Working on my story to send a letter to Steam with a recommendation of a working phone number to speak with someone as a last result. Probably won’t change, but anyway.
You would have been the first serious case against Steam. So far every believable case I read was positive or neutral for me. So I am glad it worked (even though it took longer/more effort than the other cases I know about).
Send him a message. Say you felt bad for his situation and want to give him the $40 to help his situation.
Lay it on really thick about how you got your account back and steam gave you a $50 dollar voucher for the inconvenience. As it was his doing he kind of deserves his $40 after all.
It’s only karma and helping out an individual in hard time would make you feel like a better human.
Once he agrees
Ask for his account number, sort code and password and sign him up for some disgusting porn for a month.
