Woolworths issues a new security alert to ALL Woolworths Everyday Rewards members
- Replies 5
It seems that thieves have discovered a new way to steal money from other people’s pockets – and it involves Woolworths and their loyalty card program.
In recent weeks, Woolworths customers have raised serious concerns on social media about an alleged security breach in the supermarket’s rewards system. They warned others that their accounts have been ‘hacked’ and used to make unauthorised purchases.
The users said that they were completely blindsided by the hacking incidents, with one detailing: ‘So today I noticed that somehow, someone from another state used my Woolworths Rewards dollars ($60) on Saturday! I’m so annoyed!’
‘What have others done when this happened to them? Obviously, I’m never going to see that money again but I have no idea how to stop it from happening. Passwords have been changed by me.’
Another wrote: ‘Has this ever happened to anyone before? Someone has used my Woolworths Rewards card and stole $100 worth of banked rewards.’
Beware of fraudsters. Source: Yahoo! News
‘It happened to me twice in a week. I rang them and got my points back. I have now switched to the ‘Bank for Christmas’ option as an extra layer of security.’ a third chimed.
‘I’m glad I saw this… I just checked my own account and saw that someone used $20 of mine to buy themselves a lamb leg just last month. I didn’t even know this was a thing. No wonder I haven’t been having any $10 off to use.’ added another.
This prompted Woolworths to urge Everyday Rewards members to be extra cautious.
During the incidents, the thieves somehow managed to gain access to several Everyday Rewards accounts, using the money ‘banked’ in them to buy groceries.
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that the supermarket giant is currently investigating the security breaches.
‘We’ve been assisting a number of members who appear to have been the victim of unauthorised access to their Everyday Rewards accounts,’ the spokesperson said.
‘In the cases reported to us, accounts have been accessed using valid login or account details,’
‘We’ve found no evidence to suggest our IT systems have been breached or compromised in any way. This indicates that the fraudsters may have likely obtained these members’ login credentials and account details from online scams or other sources.’
Stay vigilant. Source: TechRepublic
The Woolworths spokesperson added that Everyday Rewards members need to ensure that their accounts are secure.
‘It’s a timely reminder of the importance of having strong unique passwords by updating them regularly and remaining vigilant of scams,’ the representative continued.
‘If a member ever believes there has been fraudulent activity on their account, we encourage them to contact us, so we can immediately secure their account and reinstate any points.’
Take these extra steps to keep your Woolworths Everyday Rewards account secure:
1. Update your Everyday Rewards password if you’ve used it for another account. Make sure your passwords are unique for all online accounts.
2. Choose a strong password by including numbers and special characters, for example, ‘ILOVE2ReadB00ks!’ and ‘2beornot2B?’ (Please don’t read these examples as they’re no longer secret.)
3. Beware of suspicious texts, calls, and emails. Know that Everyday Rewards will NEVER ask for your log-in details through a call or text message.
4. Don’t forget to log out of your accounts and lock your device as soon as you’re finished using it.
You may manage your account by clicking here.
If you believe that your Woolworths Everyday Rewards account has been fraudulently accessed, call Woolworths immediately at 1300 10 1234 (select option 1). Their phone hours are 9 am to 7 pm on Mondays to Fridays (AEST) and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends (AEST).
You may learn more about Woolworths Everyday Rewards’s contact information here.
What are your thoughts on Woolworths’ alleged security breach? Have you experienced a similar issue before? Let us know in the comments!
Watch a Cybersecurity Expert answer questions about hackers below:
Source: WIRED
In recent weeks, Woolworths customers have raised serious concerns on social media about an alleged security breach in the supermarket’s rewards system. They warned others that their accounts have been ‘hacked’ and used to make unauthorised purchases.
The users said that they were completely blindsided by the hacking incidents, with one detailing: ‘So today I noticed that somehow, someone from another state used my Woolworths Rewards dollars ($60) on Saturday! I’m so annoyed!’
‘What have others done when this happened to them? Obviously, I’m never going to see that money again but I have no idea how to stop it from happening. Passwords have been changed by me.’
Another wrote: ‘Has this ever happened to anyone before? Someone has used my Woolworths Rewards card and stole $100 worth of banked rewards.’
Beware of fraudsters. Source: Yahoo! News
‘It happened to me twice in a week. I rang them and got my points back. I have now switched to the ‘Bank for Christmas’ option as an extra layer of security.’ a third chimed.
‘I’m glad I saw this… I just checked my own account and saw that someone used $20 of mine to buy themselves a lamb leg just last month. I didn’t even know this was a thing. No wonder I haven’t been having any $10 off to use.’ added another.
This prompted Woolworths to urge Everyday Rewards members to be extra cautious.
During the incidents, the thieves somehow managed to gain access to several Everyday Rewards accounts, using the money ‘banked’ in them to buy groceries.
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that the supermarket giant is currently investigating the security breaches.
‘We’ve been assisting a number of members who appear to have been the victim of unauthorised access to their Everyday Rewards accounts,’ the spokesperson said.
‘In the cases reported to us, accounts have been accessed using valid login or account details,’
‘We’ve found no evidence to suggest our IT systems have been breached or compromised in any way. This indicates that the fraudsters may have likely obtained these members’ login credentials and account details from online scams or other sources.’
Stay vigilant. Source: TechRepublic
The Woolworths spokesperson added that Everyday Rewards members need to ensure that their accounts are secure.
‘It’s a timely reminder of the importance of having strong unique passwords by updating them regularly and remaining vigilant of scams,’ the representative continued.
‘If a member ever believes there has been fraudulent activity on their account, we encourage them to contact us, so we can immediately secure their account and reinstate any points.’
Take these extra steps to keep your Woolworths Everyday Rewards account secure:
1. Update your Everyday Rewards password if you’ve used it for another account. Make sure your passwords are unique for all online accounts.
2. Choose a strong password by including numbers and special characters, for example, ‘ILOVE2ReadB00ks!’ and ‘2beornot2B?’ (Please don’t read these examples as they’re no longer secret.)
3. Beware of suspicious texts, calls, and emails. Know that Everyday Rewards will NEVER ask for your log-in details through a call or text message.
4. Don’t forget to log out of your accounts and lock your device as soon as you’re finished using it.
You may manage your account by clicking here.
If you believe that your Woolworths Everyday Rewards account has been fraudulently accessed, call Woolworths immediately at 1300 10 1234 (select option 1). Their phone hours are 9 am to 7 pm on Mondays to Fridays (AEST) and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends (AEST).
You may learn more about Woolworths Everyday Rewards’s contact information here.
What are your thoughts on Woolworths’ alleged security breach? Have you experienced a similar issue before? Let us know in the comments!
Watch a Cybersecurity Expert answer questions about hackers below:
Source: WIRED
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