Data breach victims made vulnerable to cybercriminals

Although some companies play down the risks of data breaches, it is important to remember that the exposure of a few personal details can be capable of making victims vulnerable to the work of cybercriminals.

Regardless of the length of time that data has been exposed for, people can still be at serious risk if it has got into the hands of malicious scammers or fraudsters.

Affecting approximately 900,000 UK victims, the Virgin Media data breach exposed swathes of personal data. For the victims, it was undoubtedly distressing to hear that their private information could be subjected to misuse. Having escaped enforcement action from the ICO, it is up to our group action to hold Virgin Media to account for the carelessness shown towards private data. It is unacceptable that victims have been put at risk, which is why we want to ensure that everyone affected can receive the compensation they deserve. You can use our online form today to confirm your eligibility and start your No Win, No Fee claim.

What happens when cybercriminals access my private data?

When cybercriminals obtain unauthorised access to a third party’s databases, the consequences can be serious. Because it often operates unseen, it can be easy to forget that a vast network of criminals is operating on the dark web. For these criminals, personal data is one of their most valuable commodities and tools to make money with.

As such, when a cybercriminal steals your personal data, they may simply choose to sell it online for profit. However, if they decide to use the information, there are a number of approaches that they can take. With a phone number, they can execute scam calls. Or, with an email address, they can perform phishing scams, in which they pose as reputable companies in order to extract further information, such as bank details.

If they judge the information to be particularly sensitive, it is possible that cybercriminals may hold data for ransom, promising not to publish it or misuse if the victim agrees to pay a certain sum of money.

The risks posed by the Virgin Media data breach

In the Virgin Media data breach, the failure to secure a database for 10 months led to the exposure of many email addresses, home addresses and phone numbers. After this data exposure, some victims have reported receiving fraudulent communication, whether this is tied to the data event or not. Incidents can involve both phone call scams and phishing emails which, when the victim is not wary of the risks, can expose bank accounts to fraudulent transactions and theft.

Making a claim in the Virgin Media group action.

In a data breach claim, you may be able to recover compensation for distress, for financial losses and expenses, or even for both where both categories apply. We are determined to make sure that Virgin Media is held responsible for exposing victims to cybercriminals, and we want to ensure each victim receives the compensation they deserve.

Most importantly, we can pursue Virgin Media claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning you won’t lose out if your claim is unsuccessful, subject to the terms and conditions in place.

It is quick and easy to sign up via our online form, so why not start your claim today?

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