FAQs about the JD Sports data breach
March 27, 2023
Here are some of the questions our expert data breach solicitors have been asked about the JD Sports data breach so far.
Ten million customers might be at risk after JD Sports experienced a cyber-attack. The attack relates to online orders placed for the JD, Size?, Millets, Blacks, Scotts and MilletSport brands. You could be affected by the JD Sports data breach if you placed an order online between November 2018 and October 2020.
According to the sportswear chain, the hackers may have accessed customer:
Affected customers have been advised to be vigilant for phishing attacks and fraud attempts following the breach.
While a spokesperson for JD Sports has apologised for the incident, and said that protecting customer data is an “absolute priority”, a failure to adopt standard security measures often make such attacks possible. If JD Sports did not have adequate protections in place, it must be held responsible for any loss or distress experienced by its customers because of this breach.
KP Law has launched an investigation to find out what happened and how this breach affects JD Sports customers. We believe that failures to adopt standard security measures may have made this attack easier.
If you receive notification that your data was compromised in this breach, register below to receive updates on our investigation. If we uncover that poor security processes made the security failure possible, we will launch a data breach group action to help affected customers in England & Wales claim compensation for the security failures.
Affected customers are being contacted. However, even if you do not receive notification of your involvement, if you made an online order at any of the affected stores between November 2018 and October 2020 you should take immediate steps to protect yourself.
Our data protection experts have provided some guidance on how to do this.
Victims of data breaches often become the target of cybercriminals and phishing attacks. Similar privacy violations have resulted in fraud, blackmail, and identity theft. As such, JD Sports customers are at high risk of being targeted by cybercriminals.
According to one security expert:
“Customers of JD and its affiliated brands should be on the lookout for targeted phishing messages from JD or a related company. These emails will attempt to get victims to click on a link or malicious attachment. The links might go to imitation login pages where victims are tricked into handing over their passwords or payment info. Never click on links or attachments in unsolicited messages!”
Paul Bischoff, Consumer Privacy Advocate at Comparitech
The retailer has acknowledged the risk and has warned affected customers “to be vigilant about potential scam emails, calls and texts”.
We may be able to claim compensation for any distress or financial losses experienced because of this breach. We urge anyone affected to register with us.
REGISTER TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE JD SPORTS GROUP ACTION.
Talk to our expert data breach lawyers today on 0151 459 5850
Here are some of the questions our expert data breach solicitors have been asked about the JD Sports data breach so far.
You could be affected by the JD Sports data breach if you placed an order online between November 2018 and October 2020. Affected customers are being contacted.
Details are not yet clear. We do know that the compromised data relates to online orders placed between November 2018 and October 2020 for the JD, Size?, Millets, Blacks, Scotts and MilletSport brands.
According to the sportswear chain, the hackers may have accessed customer names, addresses, email accounts, phone numbers, order details, and the final four digits of customer bank cards.
Commenting on the breach, JD Sports chief financial officer, Neil Greenhalgh, said:
“We want to apologize to those customers who may have been affected by this incident…We are continuing with a full review of our cyber security in partnership with external specialists following this incident. Protecting the data of our customers is an absolute priority for JD.”
You could be affected by the JD Sports data breach if you placed an order online between November 2018 and October 2020. Affected customers are being contacted.
Anyone who thinks they might be involved should take immediate steps to protect themselves.
A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office has confirmed that it is working with the retailer to get to the bottom of the breach. They said: “We have been made aware of a cyber incident involving the retailer JD Sports and we are assessing the information provided”.
If you live in England or Wales and you are involved in this breach, you may be able to join our no-win, no-fee compensation claim. There are no costs to register and no obligation to proceed.
A group action claim is where a group of people – sometimes even thousands of people – have been affected by the same issue. Group action cases are also known as class actions, multi-claimant, or multi-party actions.
There are no costs to join a claim. However, if your claim is successful, you may have to pay a ‘success fee’. This fee is taken from the compensation awarded to you. Our success fee is competitive, and we make sure you are fully informed about any potential costs before you officially join our action. If you lose, you won’t have to pay a penny.
Following the JD Sports data breach, KP Law launched a group action to help victims of this privacy violation claim compensation. Here’s a guide to the JD Sports data breach to help you find out if you have a claim, and what you need to do to secure justice for the violation of your data protection rights.
In January 2023, high street giant JD Sports confirmed that it had been targeted in a successful cyber-attack. During the hack, criminals gained unauthorised access to JD Sports’ systems and managed to steal the data of approximately 10 million customers.
Following the data breach, JD Sports alerted the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The ICO has since told JD Sports that it won’t face any enforcement action because of the incident. However, the regulator did identify areas that required improvement.
This suggests that there were security flaws at JD Sports.
A data breach can result in both financial and identity theft. With enough stolen information, cybercriminals can apply for credit in your name, set up fraudulent bank accounts, use your cards to make payments, and access your existing accounts. Criminals also use financial data in scams designed to extract additional information from victims (e.g. banking passwords). And hackers often sell stolen financial data to other criminals for future scams.
Even if no money is lost, the impact of a data breach can be significant. Many victims suffer from stress, anxiety and distress due to living with the added risk and the extra vigilance needed. According to Action Fraud, “if the exposed data relates to the likes of names, email addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth, it can cause damage of a different kind, namely psychological. Knowing that criminals know these details about you can cause distress, worry and anxiety.”
Our data protection solicitors have listed some helpful links to ensure victims of the JD Sports data breach know where they can turn.
The leading independent victim’s charity in England and Wales for people affected by crime and traumatic incidents.
If you are struggling emotionally after a data breach, you can call the Samaritans free from any phone.
Advice, information, onward referral, and holistic support to people experiencing mental ill-health and drug/alcohol difficulties (which could be exacerbated following the JD Sports hack). The service can also support people who have been a victim of crime.
Victims of online offences such as scams and financial/identity fraud following the JD Sports data hack should contact Action Fraud to report their loss.
A source of unbiased, factual, and easy-to-understand information on online safety with guidance to protect you from fraud, identity theft and abuse.
Impartial advice to help everyone in the UK protect themselves against financial fraud.
At KP Law, we understand that choosing a data breach solicitor can be daunting. How can you be certain that you’re making the best choice, and can you trust that there won’t be any unexpected fees down the line? To make the process a little bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of essential questions to ask when considering a JD Sports data breach lawyer.
Most law firms lack the specialised expertise needed to win data breach cases. At KP Law, we boast a dedicated team of data protection lawyers, spearheaded by Kingsley Hayes – widely regarded as one of the UK’s foremost data breach solicitors. Our profound understanding of data breach law helps us to navigate the legal complexities, ensuring successful claims for our clients.
Many firms will offer their services on a no-win, no-fee basis. In such cases, if you do not win, you do not have to pay a penny. However, it’s crucial to consider what you will have to pay if your claim is successful. Winning your case means contributing towards your JD Sports data breach lawyer’s costs, often through a ‘success fee’ deducted from your compensation. Beware, as this fee can sometimes soar unexpectedly.
At KP Law, we believe in transparency and fairness. Our success fee is among the most competitive in the industry, ensuring that your hard-earned compensation remains rightfully yours. We pride ourselves on having no hidden fees or administrative charges, providing you with peace of mind throughout the process. We also take out insurance to protect our clients from any legal costs, ensuring your journey with us is not just rewarding but also worry-free.
A group action allows people to bring their claims together to strengthen their overall position and increase their chances of success. As such, we believe that a group action is the best way to claim JD Sports compensation.
While many UK firms handle multiple-claimant litigations, it’s important to find out if they possess specific expertise in data breach group actions. At KP Law, we’re currently managing several substantial data breach group actions, and we’ve proven our mettle by securing settlements against industry giants like British Airways, Equifax and Ticketmaster.
When you choose us, you’re not just choosing legal representation; you’re aligning with a team that has a proven track record of delivering results against formidable adversaries.
To join our action, you need notification from JD Sports confirming that you were involved in the breach. We will also ask you for some other evidence to ensure we make the strongest possible claim on your behalf. This includes:
Some of our clients have seen a rise in attempted phishing scams since the JD Sports data hack. If you have experienced phishing, or other scam attempts, that you believe are linked to this data breach, please make a note of these, and keep any evidence.
If you have experienced any financial loss because of this data breach, please make a note of this and keep any evidence (e.g. bank statements, correspondence, etc.). If your financial data wasn’t breached, you could still have lost money if a phishing scammer has used the personal data stolen in this breach against you.
If you have experienced emotional distress because of this data breach, please make a note of this and keep any evidence (e.g. details about medical appointments/prescriptions that relate to this data breach).
Following a data breach, people often spend a significant amount of time on the phone with their bank and credit reference agencies. Sometimes, there are travel costs and medical expenses required. And it might be possible to add these to your claim.
It is not unusual that – on reviewing a data breach impact form – we uncover information that allows us to increase the value of a claim significantly. What might seem irrelevant to you could make a massive difference in the eyes of the law. So please keep a hold of anything that might be useful.
We are one of the most experienced multi-claimant law firms in the UK.
Our GDPR, data breach and cybercrime specialists have a combined experience of over 50 years.
We represent clients in group actions with innovation, resources, and expertise.
We work with expert barristers to ensure you get the very best level of legal support available.
We have all the resources and global expertise necessary to take on complicated cases and win.
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We make the process straightforward and hassle-free.
While each case is judged on its own merits, there are some things we would typically look for when it comes to when claiming compensation following a data breach, cybercrime or other GDPR violation:
With stolen data, cybercriminals can make purchases using your bank and credit cards, apply for credit in your name, set up fraudulent bank accounts and access your existing online accounts.
GDPR failures, cybercrime and data breaches can have a significant impact on you, both mentally and physically. They can cause or exacerbate anxiety, stress and other psychological conditions.
KP Law has some of the most skilled data breach lawyers in England and Wales. Here are just some of our success stories.
KP Law is a founding member of the Collective Redress Lawyers Association (CORLA). CORLA aims to improve access to justice for claimants by way of collective redress.