LYCA Mobile customers have been warned that personal data, including credit card details and IDs, may have been stolen in a recent cyberattack.
The mobile network has more than 16 million customers across 22 countries.
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The cyberattack, which Lyca said it was investigating last week, had stopped customers from being able to make calls and access top-ups.
Customers in the United States, Australia, Ukraine and Tunisia were not impacted by the attack, according to the company.
Lyca was quick to restore affected services for customers.
However, the company has since released a statement confirming “that the attackers have accessed at least some of the personal information held in our systems.”
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“We now believe this includes at least some customer data, so we are writing to advise you to be vigilant in case of any suspicious activity,” Lyca added.
The type of information possibly exposed in the hack include:
- Identification information – such as name, address, date of birth, alternative contact number and/or email address.
- Credit card details – Lyca stores the last four digits of your credit card number and its expiration date if you have chosen to save a card to your online account.
- The full credit card number is held by Lyca but it is encrypted. The company said the chances of accessing this is “very low”.
- Passports and IDs – if you have provided Lyca with proof of address, copies of passports, identity cards or similar information, then it may have been exposed.
- Password – if you have an online account set up, that password may have been compromised.
- Customer service interactions – randomly selected recordings of interactions between customers and customer service teams are held for up to 60 days.
Lyca has urged customers to change their passwords to their mobile accounts.
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However, if that password is used for other accounts, say your Netflix, email or bank, it’s import that you change it immediately.
The network provider has brought in a third party specialists to secure its systems and minimise the cyberattack’s impact on customers.
Law enforcement bodies in each impacted country have also been notified.
How am I affected?
As the investigation into the cyberattack continues, Lyca has cautioned that it won’t be able to provide customers PAC codes to switch their number to a new network at this time.
“Our number porting functionality has been affected by the attack on our systems,” the company said.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and are working around the clock to ensure this and all other functionality is restored as quickly as possible.”
There is also an increased risk of Lyca customers, who have had their personal data leaked, falling victim to phishing attempts, fraud or nuisance marketing calls.
Criminals may used the data they have wrongfully obtained to fool customers into giving away more personal information, money or even clicking a suspicious link.
“Criminals may use your personal details to target you with convincing emails, texts and calls,” Lyca added.
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“Be suspicious of unsolicited requests for your personal or financial details.
“If you receive an e-mail which you’re not sure about, treat it with caution, or if you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, contact your bank immediately and you should report this to the police.”
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