Identity Theft and Major Data Leaks: How Cybercriminals Exploit Support Systems

Identity theft and data breaches are on the rise, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting support systems of major companies like Bouygues, Free, and Orange. These bad actors use customer support tools to access sensitive personal information, often requiring just a few basic details to find your account and misuse your data.

How Do These Attacks Work?

Cybercriminals often exploit customer support systems, which already have access to your personal data. For example, if you're a Free customer, they can simply use your name, surname, and city to locate your account in the support system. Once they gain access, they can retrieve sensitive data such as your contract, IBAN, and other financial information, which they can misuse for malicious purposes.

They also engage in identity theft by impersonating you. They contact customer service, pretending to be you, and request invoice duplicates, providing details like your name, phone number, and other personal information. Some support teams fall into this trap, unknowingly sharing sensitive details like your phone line information or other personal data.

Common Targets:

In addition to telecom companies, large service providers such as Dengy, EDF, and other utilities are frequent targets of these cyberattacks. Customer support systems become gateways for criminals to exploit.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Use a Pseudonym: We strongly advise users to protect their online identity by using a pseudonym not linked to their personal information. This makes it harder for cybercriminals to associate your online activities with your real identity.
• Be Alert to Potential Leaks: Stay vigilant for any potential leaks of personal or sensitive information online. Regularly monitor your digital identity to prevent any surprises.
• Safeguard Financial Information: When interacting with customer support, make sure you verify the identity of the person requesting sensitive data, and only share information if absolutely necessary.

Conclusion

Attacks exploiting customer support systems are becoming more sophisticated, but by staying vigilant and taking steps to protect your identity, you can reduce the risk of identity theft. Avoid oversharing personal details online and regularly check for potential data leaks.