Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > British Airways | Executive Club
Reload this Page >

BA Investigating Theft of Personal and Financial Data

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Sep 7, 2018, 8:15 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: tbm13
Are you trying to change your BA password and having difficulty doing so? For some suggestions, go to this wikipost.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Thursday 6 September 2018 at about 1830 London time (UTC+1), BA announced that there had been a data breach involving customers using the BA website and the BA mobile app.

Updates from BA are being posted to this ba.com page: https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...st-information
A further update dated 25 October 2018 can be found in this post 1377. The SPG Law class action thread can be found here.

As at 1400 London time on Tuesday 11 September 2018, the body of that page read:-
Customer data theft

We are investigating, as a matter of urgency, the theft of customer data between 22:58 BST August 21 2018 until 21:45 BST September 5 2018 from our website, ba.com, and our mobile app.

The stolen data included personal and financial details of customers making bookings and changes on ba.com and the airline’s app. The data did not include travel or passport details.

The theft has been reported to the authorities and our website is now working normally.

What to do if you have been affected

If you believe you may have been affected because you made a booking or paid to change to your booking with a credit or debit card on ba.com or the mobile app between 22:58 BST August 21 2018 until 21:45 BST September 5 2018, we recommend you contact your bank or credit card provider and follow their advice.

We understand that this incident will cause concern and inconvenience. We are contacting all affected customers to say sorry, and we will continue to update them in the coming days.

Phishing

Customers should also be aware that fraudsters may be claiming to be British Airways and attempt to gather personal information by deception (known as 'phishing').

We will not be contacting any customers asking for payment card details and any such requests should be reported to the police and relevant authorities.

See below for more information on how to validate that the email you have received from us is genuine.
That is followed by a series of FAQs. These are reproduced at the end of this wikipost.

If you are experiencing difficulties in changing your BA password or want further information about doing so, some information is in this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...rd-ba-com.html (which also has a wikipost).

Reports from FTers suggest that credit card companies and banks are taking differing approaches to this incident:-
  • American Express - A recorded message says they are aware of the breach, there is no need to take any further action and if you suffer any financial loss you will be fully compensated; an email says: "There is no action you need to take – we will contact you immediately if there's any unusual activity with your Account. In the meantime you can continue to use your Card as normal" (see post 293, post 401, post 470 and post 491).
  • Barclaycard - They just assured me I was fully protected, and I didn't need to do anything yet (see post 253); however at 18.20 on 7/9/18 the customer service helpline automated message says that affected cards are being reissued (see post 511).
  • Barclays Bank - They have contacted people they believe to have been affected, and have blocked their cards from online use (website/app), but the cards remain valid for physical (chip & PIN) transactions in shops, ATMs etc. New cards being dispatched "within a week" (see post 918).
  • Capital One - online transactions being blocked, new cards being issued (see post 493).
  • Chase (British Airways visa) - no contact from Chase about data breach and card still working
  • HSBC Premier Mastercard - Offering customers the option to freeze the card or replace it with a new card (see post 274).
  • Lloyds - Said "wait and see", but did give the option to cancel the card and have it reissued (see post 403).
  • Lloyds Mastercard - Based on the information they have, fraudulent use of my card is unlikely, just keep an eye on online banking and report anything suspicious (see post 370).
  • Monzo - Automatically replacing all cards (see post 371).
  • Natwest- Of the opinion that as there had been no fraudulent activity on my account to just keep an eye on things, and to call immediately if any suspicious transactions appear and fraud team would refund (post 315).
  • Sainsburys Bank - seem to be replacing all cards proactively (see post 968)
  • Starling - Automatically replacing cards (see post 460).
  • Tesco Bank - Pro-actively sending a new card as per details in this post (post 484)
  • TSB - Call the Telephone Banking Team on 03459 758758 to discuss further (see post 437).
  • Vanquis - online transactions being blocked, new cards being issued (see post 493).
FAQs (as at 1400 London time on Tuesday 11 September 2018):-
Have I been affected?

How do I know if I have been affected?

Customers who made bookings or changes to their bookings on ba.com or our mobile app between 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 and 21:45 BST September 5, 2018 may have been affected.

We advise any customers who believe they may have been affected to contact their banks or credit card providers and follow their advice.

We are experiencing high call volumes into our contact centres so please continue to check this page for the latest information.

Contact us

What data has been lost?

The personal and financial details of customers making bookings on ba.com and our mobile app between 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 and 21:45 BST September 5, 2018 was compromised. No passport or travel details were stolen. Only customers who made bookings between these dates are affected.

Names, billing address, email address and all bank card details were all at risk.

Did this affect just new bookings or any payment transaction made within the impacted time period?

All payment transactions made on ba.com or our mobile app from 22:58 BST August 21 2018 to 21:45 September 5 2018 inclusive were affected. Nothing before or after these dates and times was impacted. Payments made through our call centres, travel agents or online travel sites are not affected.

Are my saved payment card details safe if they were used to make a booking in that period?

If you made a payment using a saved card on ba.com or the mobile app from 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 to 21:45 September 5, 2018 inclusive, you may have been impacted.

No Executive Club accounts were compromised in the data theft. There is no impact to Avios or details stored with the British Airways Executive Club.

Has saved credit card data been stolen, even if a booking hasn’t been made in that period?

No, saved payment card data has not been compromised. However, if you made a payment using a saved card on ba.com or the mobile app from 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 to 21:45 September 5, 2018 inclusive, you may have been impacted.

How were phone numbers not affected?

Phone number information is collected in a separate part of the booking process and is not used as part of the payment transaction therefore this has not been impacted.

I used PayPal to pay for my ba.com transaction. Is this impacted?

If you booked through PayPal, your PayPal account will not have been compromised. There does remain the risk that some of your personal information such as your name and address may have been accessed. No passport details or travel details were compromised.

Is Apple Pay affected?

If you used Apple Pay via the mobile app then your data will not have been compromised.

I had a failed payment attempt during the affected time period – am I affected?

If you clicked the pay button on ba.com then the transaction would have taken place even if the outcome was unsuccessful and the data would have been compromised.

We advise any concerned customers to contact their banks or credit card providers and follow their advice.

Will I be affected if I made a free change to my booking but my payment card details were saved in the reservation?

If you made a free change to your booking via ba.com and did not use your payment card as part of that transaction, then you will not have been impacted.

Are travel agent bookings affected?

Only bookings or changes to bookings made directly with ba.com or the mobile app between 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 and 21:45 BST September 5, 2018 were affected.

If a change was made to a travel agent booking on ba.com and payment made for an additional product, such as seat reservations or excess baggage, then these would be affected.

Does this affect Executive Club accounts in any way? i.e. missing Avios/ Tier Points

No accounts were compromised in the data theft. There is no impact to Avios or details stored with the British Airways Executive Club.

I received an email about the data theft, however I only cancelled a booking during this time – will I be affected?

If you cancelled and refunded your booking between 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 and 21:45 September 5, 2018, you will not have been impacted.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What should I do if I think I am affected?

Should I call my bank or cancel my credit cards?

We recommend that all customers who made bookings or changes to their bookings with ba.com or the mobile app, between 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 and 21:45 BST September 5, 2018, contact their banks or credit card providers and follow their advice.

I think my card was compromised when I made a booking on ba.com outside of the time period – what should I do?

The data theft relates to customer bookings made or changed between 22:58 BST August 21, 2018 and 21:45 September 5, 2018 only.

We advise any concerned customers to contact their banks or credit card providers and follow their advice.

How would I know if I have been a victim of identity theft?

There are a number of signs to look out for that may indicate that you might have been a victim of identity theft:-
  • Post from your bank or utility provider doesn’t arrive.
  • You apply for state benefits, but are told you are already claiming.
  • Refused financial services, credit cards or a loan, despite having a good credit rating.
  • Receiving letters in your name from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours.
If you think that you might be a victim of identity theft, then you should:
  • Request a copy of your credit file to check for any suspicious credit applications.
  • Report the theft of personal information and suspicious credit applications to the police and ask for a crime reference number.
  • If fraud has been committed, contact Action Fraud.
I have had some suspicious emails or phone calls – are they legitimate?

If you are concerned about an email, we recommend that you don't click on any links, open any documents or reply to it until you have looked into it further.

Official emails relating to this theft will be sent from: [email protected]. You should hover over the sent email address to confirm this is where the email has been sent from before clicking on it.

British Airways will never proactively contact you to request your personal or confidential information. If you ever receive an email or call, claiming to be from us, requesting this information, please report it to us straight away.

We've put the details of the scams we're aware of on our ba.com website security page. There's also security essentials information to help you, along with details of how to report any new scams to us (or other emails/calls that have concerned you).

Will I be reimbursed?

We take the protection of our customers’ data seriously and are very sorry for the concern that this criminal activity has caused.

We will continue to keep our customers updated with the very latest information.

No customer will be out of pocket as a direct result of the criminal theft of data from ba.com and the airline’s mobile app. Any customer who made a booking between 22:58 BST August 21 2018 and 21:45 BST September 5 2018 will be reimbursed for any fraudulent activity on their accounts as a direct result of the data theft and we shall advise the process for this in due course.

We will be offering a 12-month credit rating monitoring service to any affected customer who is concerned about an impact to their credit rating, provided by specialists in the field and will share details of this in the near future.

Will BA pay for costs associated with getting new cards, e.g. postage costs?

No customer will be out of pocket as a direct result of the criminal theft of data from ba.com and the airline’s mobile app. We are working through the process and will update our customers as soon as we can.

How do I reset my ba.com password?

ba.com and Executive Club accounts have not been compromised and your login details are safe.

However, if you’d like to change your password, first ensure you are logged out of ba.com and click the Forgotten Pin/Password link on the top right-hand corner of the homepage. We recommend you choose a unique password that you do not use for any other online account.

We are aware of some customers experiencing intermittent issues when attempting to reset their passwords. We are working on resolving this as quickly as possible.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How does this affect my bookings?

What shall I do if I am due to travel today?

The incident has been resolved and all systems are working normally so customers due to travel can check-in online as normal.

Will I still be able to check in?

Yes, all customers booked on our flights will be able to check in as normal.

Will this affect any future bookings?

The incident has been resolved and ba.com is working normally so future bookings will not be affected.

Will bookings made over the period of this incident remain confirmed?

Yes, all bookings made remain valid for travel.

If I cancelled the card my booking was made with what do I need to bring to the airport?

The payment card that was used to pay for the booking should be brought to the airport if you are the owner of the card and are travelling. However, if the payment card has expired since the booking was made and you have a new card, or you don't have the original card used for payment, please print out a copy of your flight itinerary from Manage my Booking.

I have now cancelled my credit card, but I had used that card to make a future flight booking, so how will I be able to access that booking?
You do not need to enter your payment card details when retrieving an existing booking via Manage My Booking on ba.com, so access to future booking is not restricted due to the cancellation of the payment card.
As of Wednesday 12th September, affected customers are being emailed with the following additional information

We deeply apologise for any worry and inconvenience this criminal activity has caused. For your reassurance, we’re offering you 12 months of free credit and identity monitoring services, provided by Experian, one of the UK’s leading Credit Reference agencies.

Your free ProtectMyID membership
To help you to monitor your personal information for certain signs of potential identity theft, we are offering you a free 12 month membership to Experian ProtectMyID. This service helps detect possible misuse of your personal data and provides you with identity monitoring support, focussed on the identification and resolution of identity theft.

Activating your free ProtectMyID membership
1. Ensure that you sign up for the service by 12 December 2018. Your code expires after this date.
2. Visit the ProtectMyID website to get started.
3. Click on ‘Join ProtectMyID’ (top right-hand side).
4. Enter your details along with the following activation code: XXXXXXXX
This code is unique to you and only available in this email – please keep this email for reference.

Once your membership is activated, you’ll have access to the following features:
1. Unlimited access to your Experian Credit Report.
2. Credit Alerting – an email or text to let you know when certain changes happen on your Experian Credit Report, such as the addition of a new credit search.
3. Access to an Identity Theft Resolution service if you do become a victim of fraud, where you’ll have a dedicated case worker who will support you in resolving fraud that has occurred.
4. If you are at higher risk of fraud, Experian can add protective Cifas registration to your credit report which can help prevent credit being taken in your name. The Cifas Protective Registration service places a flag alongside your name and personal details in the National Fraud Database. Companies and organisations who are signed up as members of the database will see you’re at risk and take extra steps to protect you.

If you have any questions regarding this service, then please contact Experian’s Customer Support Centre on 03444 818182*. They are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Note that the email from BA gives you a personal "Activation Code". However, when you get to the signup forms for ProtectMyID, you put the code into the second page of the sign up form in the "Promotional Code" field.
Print Wikipost

BA Investigating Theft of Personal and Financial Data

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 21, 2018, 7:56 am
  #1111  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
Programs: BA Gold , Mucci recipient. Coffee Drinker, Blue Sky Thinker
Posts: 2,111
Originally Posted by chistery
BA wouldn't have your email password anyway.
Unless your email and Ba passwords are the same of course...
adrianlondon likes this.
sunshinebob is online now  
Old Sep 21, 2018, 8:27 am
  #1112  
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,086
Originally Posted by binman



has anyone received anything from Experian. I signed up and 7 days later nothing. An email to them tonight get auto reply stating 5 days to respond.

Time me to sign up to the class action
Same here - no PIN code to register!
Markie is online now  
Old Sep 21, 2018, 9:47 am
  #1113  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: LSI/ABZ
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 31
12-Sep: Signed up
19-Sep: " We've noticed that you haven't activated your full ProtectMyID membership. " e-mail
21-Sep: Received a posted letter dated the 12th welcoming me to the service and to get started by going to the website and "log in using the same username and password that you chose when you signed up". Tried that thinking maybe the PIN isn't a requirement but it is.

I guess they're unable to cope with the sheer number of applications recently.
InsouciantYak is offline  
Old Sep 21, 2018, 1:07 pm
  #1114  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,915
Originally Posted by CTV
I was in the same position as you until this morning and then my existing Experian service alerted me to the following....

High Risk Alert

Your email address and password are being illegally published and sold online.
What have we found? Your email address "email address" and the password you use to access it
Why do I need to know? They are being sold together online by illegal black market communities. This puts you at high risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
More details and what to do next

I also received two other Medium Risk Alerts to say that my phone number is being illegally published and sold as well as my last name & postcode.
Great
Whilst I can't speak for what Experian have found, this could be historic compromise information that their systems have reviewed and flagged up that something linked to your identity has been flagged. So for exqmple if you had a LinkedIn/Yahoo/etc account a few years ago and the email address you use for that is the same as the email address you gave to Experian then that might explain why Experian have flagged this to you. Therefore it could be nothing to do with the BA breach, only Experian could tell you that.

A set of compromise data is available for public search at https://haveibeenpwned.com - this allows anyone to check your email address(es) to see if they have been implicated in a breach where the data has been made available to this database. The data that Experian might have access to could be different to this site but it's likely to be similar.
CTV and wrp96 like this.

Last edited by plunet; Sep 21, 2018 at 10:40 pm
plunet is offline  
Old Sep 21, 2018, 2:32 pm
  #1115  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Originally Posted by InsouciantYak
19-Sep: " We've noticed that you haven't activated your full ProtectMyID membership. " e-mail
At what point in the sign-up process are you told that there's a further step before you can fully activate the membership? I have signed up, and it all seemed to be done in one transaction. I haven't been told that anything is coming in the post, whether it's a PIN or password or anything else. I've re-read my welcome email and it doesn't say anything of the kind.
Globaliser is offline  
Old Sep 21, 2018, 4:02 pm
  #1116  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: LSI/ABZ
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by Globaliser
At what point in the sign-up process are you told that there's a further step before you can fully activate the membership? I have signed up, and it all seemed to be done in one transaction. I haven't been told that anything is coming in the post, whether it's a PIN or password or anything else. I've re-read my welcome email and it doesn't say anything of the kind.
Not sure if there was anything on screen but the first e-mail, dated the day I signed up states "Congratulations on joining ProtectMyID...blah blah...So that you can start using our service, we'll post a PIN to your address within the next few days. Once you've received it, go to <website>".
Markie likes this.
InsouciantYak is offline  
Old Sep 21, 2018, 6:45 pm
  #1117  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA silver
Posts: 1,850
I have also been told a pin will be sent. So are others able to log in without a pin?
fiona is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 1:10 am
  #1118  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Originally Posted by InsouciantYak
12-Sep: Signed up
19-Sep: " We've noticed that you haven't activated your full ProtectMyID membership. " e-mail
21-Sep: Received a posted letter dated the 12th welcoming me to the service and to get started by going to the website and "log in using the same username and password that you chose when you signed up". Tried that thinking maybe the PIN isn't a requirement but it is.

I guess they're unable to cope with the sheer number of applications recently.
Well, at least they're consistent - I have an identical timeline. I spent 20 mins on hold in their call centre queue yesterday to ask them what was going on, but never managed to speak to anyone...
Silver Fox likes this.
Deltus is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 3:00 am
  #1119  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Originally Posted by InsouciantYak
Not sure if there was anything on screen but the first e-mail, dated the day I signed up states "Congratulations on joining ProtectMyID...blah blah...So that you can start using our service, we'll post a PIN to your address within the next few days. Once you've received it, go to <website>".
Originally Posted by fiona
I have also been told a pin will be sent. So are others able to log in without a pin?
My first email said only this - nothing about a posted password or PIN:-
Dear [Globaliser],

Congratulations on joining ProtectMyID. You've taken a major step in protecting yourself from identity fraud.

As part of your membership, we monitor the information in your credit report and let you know if someone applies for a loan, mobile phone contract or any other form of credit in your name.

If a fraudulent application is made, you can be sure that a dedicated caseworker will help you sort everything out.

Take advantage of all the benefits:
  • A dedicated case worker to help you resolve identity fraud problems
  • Unlimited access to your Experian Credit Report
  • See when someone applies for credit in your name with alert notifications
  • Take the fraud risk assessment test
  • Get tips and advice to help avoid identity fraud
  • How to get started
To get the most out of your membership, however, you need to log in to your account and do three things:
  1. Set your alert update preferences
  2. Make sure your personal details are correct
  3. Check your credit report
If you have any questions about your ProtectMyID membership, just send us an email at customersupport@...

All the best,
The ProtectMyID team

This is an unmanned email address so please don't reply to this email. If you need to contact us email customersupport@...
Globaliser is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 7:50 am
  #1120  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NY
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 121
I did make a reservation on August 31st but i didn’t receive any emails from BA :-/ I believe it’s because I canceled the reservation later on... I’d love to get into the action as well regarding the data protection plan/ class action lawsuit
pl840502 is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 8:12 am
  #1121  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 275
Originally Posted by pl840502
I did make a reservation on August 31st but i didn’t receive any emails from BA :-/ I believe it’s because I canceled the reservation later on... I’d love to get into the action as well regarding the data protection plan/ class action lawsuit
If you want to receive the identity monitoring service, you can send BA Twitter a tweet, they will be happy to open a case for you to follow-up.
I could successfully claim back such expenses using this route.
marcolau317 is online now  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 8:30 am
  #1122  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NY
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 121
Originally Posted by marcolau317
If you want to receive the identity monitoring service, you can send BA Twitter a tweet, they will be happy to open a case for you to follow-up.
I could successfully claim back such expenses using this route.
Cool I just did that. They opened a case for me. Waiting for follow up contacts from them now. Thanks Marcolau317 👍🏻
pl840502 is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 8:34 am
  #1123  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,554
Originally Posted by pl840502
I did make a reservation on August 31st but i didn’t receive any emails from BA :-/ I believe it’s because I canceled the reservation later on... I’d love to get into the action as well regarding the data protection plan/ class action lawsuit
As I said earlier, I did book two awards on 29 August, paid fees with my visa card, but never received an email from BA.
I sent a request for information and they replied that they found my booking and "
"Despite the criminal activity that took place, not everyone was affected. I would still recommend follow any advice by your card provider, but it seems you were not identified as being affected."

How they seem to believe that I was ot affected is mysterious.
I called my bank and they said that they have no way to suspect until BA contact them (which BA did for other banks).
There has been no suspect transaction yet, but there is always the risk of one in the future.
brunos is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 9:17 am
  #1124  
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 257
Originally Posted by InsouciantYak
12-Sep: Signed up
19-Sep: " We've noticed that you haven't activated your full ProtectMyID membership. " e-mail
21-Sep: Received a posted letter dated the 12th welcoming me to the service and to get started by going to the website and "log in using the same username and password that you chose when you signed up". Tried that thinking maybe the PIN isn't a requirement but it is.

I guess they're unable to cope with the sheer number of applications recently.
I have the same timeline. Except the letter I received on 21 September started the same as yours but included a PIN. I did exactly as they directed and logged in using the email and password I had used initially and on the third screen it asked for the PIN from the letter. Are you sure you don't have the PIN in the letter? It is the one and only letter I have had from them. OH received his PIN today, exactly the same letter.


Last edited by marshy11; Sep 22, 2018 at 9:25 am Reason: Add photo link
marshy11 is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2018, 9:37 am
  #1125  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,626
I registered with protectmyID a week ago using the code in the email BA sent me. No need for a PIN.

I received a letter today (different format to the one in post 1124), but it's just confirmation of what is being offered. I can log onto the website using my user name, password and 2 digits from my memorable information. No PIN required.
Agent69 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.