Websites Sell Britons Bank Details

Security breaches that are allowing the financial details of tens of thousands of Britons to be sold on the internet are to be investigated by the country’s information watchdog.

Without paying a single penny, The Times downloaded banking information belonging to 32 people, including a High Court deputy judge and a managing director.

The private account numbers, PINs and security codes were offered as tasters by illegal hacking sites in the hope that purchases would follow...….

The information watchdog is considering whether to launch an investigation after it emerged that thousands of Britons' bank details are for sale on the internet.

It said one fraudster was offering to sell 30,000 British credit card numbers for £1 each.

A spokesman for Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said the data on offer appeared to be for accounts that were currently active.

He said the initial focus would be on what security breach, if any, had taken place to allow the information to get into the public domain. He added that if the data was acquired fraudulently, or by theft, the matter would be passed to the police as a criminal inquiry.

The news comes a day before Mr Thomas is due to address the House of Commons Justice Committee over the powers that he needs to prevent breaches of data protection..….

One concern with today's revelations is that the websites involved may be based overseas, which would put them beyond the Information Commissioner's remit.

James Jones, a consumer education manager with credit reference agency Experian, said the discovery was a "huge concern".

"The authorities need to act immediately to close these sites down," he said.

"This information is very very valuable to criminals - it will not only allow fraudsters to access the individuals' accounts, but also there is probably enough information for them to create new accounts."

Mr Jones said it was vital for bank customers to monitor their accounts and credit reports..….

Geraldine Hernon, 30, of St Ives, Cambridgeshire, was shocked to hear that her credit card number, expiry date and security number were online with her address, telephone number and e-mail address. She said: “I can’t believe it. I will have to change my whole account. It is terrifying that people have the information. It is personal information. I feel really scared.”

The bank details of Robert Seabrook, QC, a deputy judge and former chairman of the Bar Council, were also freely available. He, too, described the breach as terrifying. “I am profoundly concerned,” he said. “One reads about the anxieties of data in the public domain but it is disconcerting to hear something so personal being available. If you can get this sort of thing for free who knows what is below the water line?” ..….