Hackers hit mobile phone retailer
The latest retailer to fall victim to an online data breach is a subsidiary of mobile phone network provider Sprint.
Boost Mobile, which sells mobile phones linked to its network via 8,000 brick-and-mortar stores and an e-commerce site, announced the breach in a May 13 posting on its site. The attack, which occurred on March 14, 2019, consisted of unauthorized online account activity in which an unauthorized person accessed customer accounts through their Boost phone number and online PIN codes.
According to Boost Mobile, its mobile fraud team discovered the incident and was able to implement a permanent solution to prevent similar unauthorized account activity. Boost Mobile sent a text notifying affected customers that a new temporary PIN code had been established so they could change their PIN code. Boost is recommending that customers avoid simple PIN codes such as 1234 or 1010.
Boost Mobile is also providing a customer care phone number and advising customers who think their personal information was used for identity theft to place a fraud report on and review their credit reports, close any potentially fraudulent or compromised accounts, file a police report, and contact their state’s attorney general or consumer protection agency.
Boost Mobile did not specify how hackers may have obtained customer data or how many customers were affected. However, according to TechCrunch, the company has notified the California attorney general, which is required for any breach affecting more than 500 people in that state.
Boost Mobile, which sells mobile phones linked to its network via 8,000 brick-and-mortar stores and an e-commerce site, announced the breach in a May 13 posting on its site. The attack, which occurred on March 14, 2019, consisted of unauthorized online account activity in which an unauthorized person accessed customer accounts through their Boost phone number and online PIN codes.
According to Boost Mobile, its mobile fraud team discovered the incident and was able to implement a permanent solution to prevent similar unauthorized account activity. Boost Mobile sent a text notifying affected customers that a new temporary PIN code had been established so they could change their PIN code. Boost is recommending that customers avoid simple PIN codes such as 1234 or 1010.
Boost Mobile is also providing a customer care phone number and advising customers who think their personal information was used for identity theft to place a fraud report on and review their credit reports, close any potentially fraudulent or compromised accounts, file a police report, and contact their state’s attorney general or consumer protection agency.
Boost Mobile did not specify how hackers may have obtained customer data or how many customers were affected. However, according to TechCrunch, the company has notified the California attorney general, which is required for any breach affecting more than 500 people in that state.