Data Breach Incident

[Kushan]

It doesn't matter whether or not someone tried to use that data against you (be it blackmail or regular "spam"), what matters is that it was exposed and leaked by Virgin.

Virgin - and any other company holding your personal information - has a responsibility to look after that personal information.

It's not up to you or anyone else to decide if that information is okay to be out in public or not, that's what makes it personal information and even if you personally don't give a crap about your own information, others get to decide on their own information.

For far too long, companies haven't taken this seriously. This is why we ended up with GDPR, as much as people love to hate it and all the stupid emails that came with it, it's a direct result of companies not taking this kind of thing seriously.

All that being said, I'm not sure how much I would trust yourlawyers.co.uk, this seems like an utter cash grab. And there's no way 900,000 people are getting £5k each.

[Mythica]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It's been confirmed by VM that the data was actually accessed.

---------- Post added at 20:47 ---------- Previous post was at 20:46 ----------



Because blackmail, or attempted blackmail, is a serious criminal offence.

Of course it is, but you cant blackmail someone if they haven't done the thing you have accused them of. You said you seeked professional advice, what advice were you looking for if you knew it was just spam? If you were that concerned why didn't you just report it to your service provider and or the Police.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Kushan

It doesn't matter whether or not someone tried to use that data against you (be it blackmail or regular "spam"), what matters is that it was exposed and leaked by Virgin.

Virgin - and any other company holding your personal information - has a responsibility to look after that personal information.

It's not up to you or anyone else to decide if that information is okay to be out in public or not, that's what makes it personal information and even if you personally don't give a crap about your own information, others get to decide on their own information.

For far too long, companies haven't taken this seriously. This is why we ended up with GDPR, as much as people love to hate it and all the stupid emails that came with it, it's a direct result of companies not taking this kind of thing seriously.

All that being said, I'm not sure how much I would trust yourlawyers.co.uk, this seems like an utter cash grab. And there's no way 900,000 people are getting £5k each.

If successful and VM aren't ordered to pay costs, they take 35% of your compensation. If the case is unsuccessful, they don't charge anything, so will have lost out financially.

They must have worked out that, on balance, they will win enough cases to cover their costs and make a profit.

---------- Post added at 21:15 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

How is that relevant ?
Blackmail is impossible if you havent done what they said, and you said you havent.

I was advised that blackmail, whether it involved something that was true or not, is an offence.

If someone threatened to tell the school where a teacher worked that s/he was a paedophile (when they weren't) unless they paid them money, this would be an offence AIUI.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

If successful and VM aren't ordered to pay costs, they take 35% of your compensation. If the case is unsuccessful, they don't charge anything, so will have lost out financially.

They must have worked out that, on balance, they will win enough cases to cover their costs and make a profit.

---------- Post added at 21:15 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------



I was advised that blackmail, whether it involved something that was true or not, is an offence.

If someone threatened to tell the school where a teacher worked that s/he was a paedophile (when they weren't) unless they paid them money, this would be an offence AIUI.

You really want to waste police time over this? I bet virgin staff would jump for joy when finally go.Which I don't think you ever will guess what freeview won't gives damn about you!

[Inactive Digital]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

If successful and VM aren't ordered to pay costs, they take 35% of your compensation. If the case is unsuccessful, they don't charge anything, so will have lost out financially.

They must have worked out that, on balance, they will win enough cases to cover their costs and make a profit.

Interesting, thanks. I couldn't see their fees mentioned anywhere on the website.
If it is 35% the firms usually charge VAT on top, so effectively 42%.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

If successful and VM aren't ordered to pay costs, they take 35% of your compensation. If the case is unsuccessful, they don't charge anything, so will have lost out financially.

They must have worked out that, on balance, they will win enough cases to cover their costs and make a profit.

I hope you get a big fat zero.

[Sirius]

Just because you have a ex directory number does NOT mean you will not get calls from the call centres that scam you. All they do is use an auto dialer device with software that can be programmed to dial numbers in a given range, IE 01946 000001 to 01946 999999. They can also give out random numbers to fool the anonymous caller systems. As you can see they can cover every number. They can also do the same for mobile numbers as well. The area codes for the uk are freely available on the internet and you can bet they share them from centre to centre. So just because you suddenly start getting calls does not mean your number has been found from a hack of a server but it could be because someone is using a dialer and software

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Itshim

You really want to waste police time over this? I bet virgin staff would jump for joy when finally go.Which I don't think you ever will guess what freeview won't gives damn about you!

Explain where it was mentioned that any police time was wasted and by whom? I bet Virgin staff would jump for joy more when you stop stealing Virgin Media services as yoy have admitted to and putting their livelihoods in difficulty.

---------- Post added at 13:27 ---------- Previous post was at 13:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Pierre

I hope you get a big fat zero.

And why would that be?

---------- Post added at 13:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Sirius

Just because you have a ex directory number does NOT mean you will not get calls from the call centres that scam you. All they do is use an auto dialer device with software that can be programmed to dial numbers in a given range, IE 01946 000001 to 01946 999999. They can also give out random numbers to fool the anonymous caller systems. As you can see they can cover every number. They can also do the same for mobile numbers as well. The area codes for the uk are freely available on the internet and you can bet they share them from centre to centre. So just because you suddenly start getting calls does not mean your number has been found from a hack of a server but it could be because someone is using a dialer and software

Yes, i've read that they do this. The calls started about the time of the data breach, but you're right, it might not have been due to the data breach itself. Nevertheless, the data breach caused me unneccesary upset and worry when I received these calls.

---------- Post added at 13:43 ---------- Previous post was at 13:30 ----------

Some more info about it along with some security tips here:

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/202...has-your-data/

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

And why would that be?

Because you haven’t suffered any loss, financially or otherwise.

You’re just jumping on a bandwagon.

You’re no different to someone that puts in a fraudulent whiplash claim after a minor bump.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Because you haven’t suffered any loss, financially or otherwise.

You’re just jumping on a bandwagon.

You’re no different to someone that puts in a fraudulent whiplash claim after a minor bump.

You can bet your bottom dollar that the blood sucking lawyers are already planning how they will make claims over this virus once it's finished

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Nevertheless, the data breach caused me unneccesary upset and worry when I received these calls.

So .... a breach you knew nothing about caused you upset and worry

Its no wonder everyone thinks you're a tool Richard.

Its not often I agree with Pierre, but I too hope you get nothing.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Paul

So .... a breach you knew nothing about caused you upset and worry

Its no wonder everyone thinks you're a tool Richard.

Its not often I agree with Pierre, but I too hope you get nothing.

I don't think he's a 'tool'. VM are the tools.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Paul

So .... a breach you knew nothing about caused you upset and worry

Its no wonder everyone thinks you're a tool Richard.

Its not often I agree with Pierre, but I too hope you get nothing.

It looks like the blood sucking lawyers will have a field day

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Mr K

I don't think he's a 'tool'. VM are the tools.

I just knew that you, if anyone, would take that position.

You’re nothing if not predictable.

You’re a lefty, Liberal blah blah blah, but on the other hand defend fraud.

That defines the corrupt left. Socialism “yeah”. But we’ll certainly screw anyone and anything for personal gain.............so admirable.

Let's all calm down before someone says something we will all regret.I will point out that EVERYONE but us Mods can use the ignore function SO WHY NOT USE IT?