While cheerfully acknowledging there is controversy, I dispute your immediate dismissal of these reports. For other readers, then:

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/08/qa-on-the-reported-theft-...

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2014/08/over_a_billio...

As to why it may be on-topic here: the activity reported by NameCheap in the OP lines up pretty well with the reports of a large collection of compromised accounts in the hands of a criminal group.