My account has been hacked and points stolen

[sumthinfornuthin]

I received an email from IHG rewards yesterday saying my email address had been updated etc. I logged in and my account details have been altered from an Australian address to a USA address and 300,000+ points has been taken. I rang Customer Care and learn that they have been redeemed for an iPad and it is now with their fraud department.

Check your accounts !!

As a footnote I rang the Sheriffs' Office in the town and they would not even take the details to maybe catch a scammer scamming other people to. They said to lodge a report here with Police who will contact them etc etc, by then it will be months and they will be gone !

Looking on the Net this is apparently rampant

 

[JohnK]

That's not good to hear.

IHG has a 4 digit pin similar to Qantas.

 

[eric2011]

I'm most probably my own worst enemy. I must remember to log out of my account when using a public computer. Usually I just close the browser down but have been told that is a bit dangerous

 

[moa999]

Very.. Public PC I always close everything and then restart

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Finally got all my points back and a new account opened. Despite promises IHG never rang back and I rang 5 times...politely...but not giving up...Finally put on hold and all restored.
I still don't see how the accounts are hacked. I would have thought after 3 attempts it would log off or lock etc