The Origin Hack
If you're one of the Origin customers receiving a letter, don't panic—but do assume that scammers now have more information about you than they did before.
Origin has confirmed that affected customer data may include names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, account information, and the last few digits of credit cards or bank accounts. They have stated they do not believe full banking or credit card details were exposed.
The biggest risk isn't someone emptying your bank account tomorrow. It's that criminals can use your personal details to create highly convincing scams.
Consumers should be on the lookout for:
Phone calls claiming to be from Origin, where the caller already knows your name, address or account number and asks you to "verify" the rest of your details.
Fake emails and SMS messages saying your account has been suspended, your bill needs updating or you're entitled to compensation. These messages will often contain links to fake websites.
Identity theft attempts, where stolen information is combined with data from previous breaches such as Optus, Medibank or Qantas to build a much more complete profile of you.
Bank impersonation scams, with callers claiming there's suspicious activity on your account and asking you to transfer money to a "safe account."
Password reset scams, where criminals try to trick you into revealing one-time verification codes sent to your phone or email.
The best advice is simple:
Never click links in unexpected emails or text messages.
If someone calls claiming to be from Origin, hang up and call Origin back using the number on your bill or their official website.
Change your Origin password if you haven't already, and don't reuse passwords across different services.
Turn on two-factor authentication wherever it's available.
Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements over the coming months, and watch for any accounts or loans opened in your name.
The reality is that the data itself may not seem especially sensitive, but in the hands of scammers it's enough to make fake communications sound very believable. That's why a healthy level of skepticism over the next few months will be your best defence.
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