There has been another breach in the personal data and security of consumers in the UK, after a vehicle recovery driver discovered various files and documents in the road near Junction 11 of the M4. The documentation turned out to be a variety of personal data, including cheques and the bank account details of around two hundred wealthy customers that had made investments. Included in the files were the personal bank details of three national lottery winners.
The two hundred people that have been affected by the incident have been contacted by officials from Prudential, whose documentation it was. One of the lottery winners, who won over £8 million last year, stated that the incident had left her feeling physically sick. The documentation related to investments that amounted to millions of pounds, and put a number of wealthy consumers at risk of identity theft and fraud. However, the Prudential have now reassured customers that all of the documentation has been taken to a secure site.
The documentation was being taken to a secure facility when it appears to have fallen off a DHL courier’s van. One official commenting on the courier service stated: ‘He appears not to have noticed that the door of his van was open and the box appears to have fallen out. The Pru is clearly not happy at all. It has suspended all use of DHL until the investigation is concluded.’
A spokesman from the Prudential stated: ‘Protection of our customers’ data is of paramount importance to us and we are contacting them immediately. The key thing is that none of those customers will suffer any financial loss as a result of this. It was a delivery being made on our behalf to a secure storage facility in Essex and basically the DHL van and the box parted company at some stage during that journey.’
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