Symantec warns customers after call center theft

Around 200 of its customers may have been affected by a data theft incident reported last week
Tags | symantec

Symantec is warning a small number of customers that their credit card numbers may have been stolen from an Indian call center used by the security vendor.

Symantec sent out the warning letters last week, after the BBC reported that it managed to purchase credit card numbers obtained from Symantec's call center from a Delhi-based man named Saurabh Sachar.

The letters were sent to just over 200 customers, according to Symantec spokesman Cris Paden. Most of those notified are in the U.S., but the company also notified a handful of customers in the U.K. and Canada, Paden said via e-mail.

"We have no evidence that the credit card information of any United States resident was actually compromised," Symantec wrote in its notification letter. (pdf)

It is not clear how Sachar might have obtained the card numbers, but he appears to have acted as a middleman. Symantec has linked the card numbers to another person working at a call center operated by e4e India, Paden said.

"As to whether or not that employee actually handled the information inappropriately or not remains to be investigated and confirmed by law enforcement," he said.

He declined to identify the employee, who has been placed on administrative leave.

References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the PC World comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Recent Discussions

Buying Guides

Twitter Feed

1) HTC Desire5 plans 3%
2) Samsung Galaxy S19 plans 13%
3) HTC Google Nexus One5 plans 2%
4) Apple iPhone 4 16GB30 plans 11%
5) Blackberry Bold 970022 plans 4%

Mobiles | Broadband | Credit Cards

IDG - PC World

Top 5 Security & Email