Hackers target customer accounts of popular Australian brands—are you at risk?

In an increasingly digital world, the security of our personal information is paramount.

However, recent cyber attacks on some of Australia's most popular brands have left thousands of customers vulnerable, their personal details compromised, and fraudulent transactions carried out in their names.



Brands such as Guzman y Gomez, Dan Murphy's, Binge, and Event Cinemas have been targeted in what authorities believe to be a coordinated attack.

The hackers are believed to have purchased stolen login details from overseas cybercriminals, allowing them to access customers' online accounts.


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Cybercriminals have targeted five Australian brands in a recent cyberattack. Credit: Freepik



The victims of this cyber attack are estimated to be at least 15,000 Australians, which continues to rise as more people become aware of the fraudulent activity.

The victims are primarily customers who had saved their credit card details on the company websites or who had gift cards or store credit for online purchases.

In one instance, a scammer purchased almost $800 worth of alcohol from Dan Murphy's in a single transaction.

Endeavour Group, which owns Dan Murphy's, confirmed that a 'small' number of customer accounts were compromised.

'These were obtained through unrelated third-party breaches and not due to our internal systems being compromised,' a spokesman said.

'Our team took immediate action and has been working with affected customers,' they assured.



Popular Mexican fast food chain Guzman y Gomez also fell victim to the cyber attack.

The company stated that it ‘uses advanced monitoring for such attacks and proactively takes action to defend against cyber criminals to protect guests, including notifying users of suspicious activity’.

The cyber attack has also affected customers who use the same login details for multiple online accounts, with stored PayPal accounts linked to an email and password being compromised.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that some scammers allegedly shared details and receipts of the fraudulent purchases on the messaging platform Telegram.

This latest cyber attack is a stark reminder of the importance of online security.

It comes on the heels of a similar attack on major online retailer THE ICONIC and follows a series of cyber attacks on other companies such as Optus, Telstra, and Medibank Private over the last 18 months.

Security experts are now urging Australians with multiple online accounts to use a strong and unique password for each site. This is a simple yet effective measure to protect against such attacks.



It’s crucial for everyone to stay vigilant and take proactive steps to protect their personal information.
Tip
If you suspect that your account has been compromised, report it to your local law enforcement agency immediately or report to Scamwatch here. You may also contact 000 in case of emergencies.
Key Takeaways
  • Hackers targeted Australian companies, including Guzman y Gomez, Dan Murphy's, Binge, and Event Cinemas, affecting at least 15,000 customers.
  • Customer personal details have been compromised, and fraudulent transactions have been carried out using stolen credit card details or gift card/store credit.
  • Customers who use the same login details across multiple online accounts are particularly at risk, with some scammers sharing details of their fraudulent activities on Telegram.
  • Security experts advise the creation of strong and unique passwords for each online account to protect against such cyber attacks.
Have you been affected by these recent cyber attacks? Share your experiences and tips for staying safe online in the comments below!
 
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As much as possible, I don't put my debit or credit card details on my accounts online, as data breaches are inevitable on any website. Scammers are really getting smarter with their strategies these days, and it's scary 😩
 
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