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Oxfam data breach

From Breaches, in the HARD wiki · Updated
This article is about the January 2021 breach of Oxfam. For every breach, see Breaches.

The Oxfam data breach exposed 1,834,006 accounts from oxfam.org.au in January 2021. The data taken includes bank account numbers, partial credit card data, payment histories and dates of birth and 5 more kinds of data.[1]

Have I Been Pwned verified it and added it to its search on 2 Mar 2021, 1 month later. It is the 324th largest of the 618 breaches in HARD’s list.

What was exposed

Oxfam’s breach included 9 kinds of data. What each lets criminals do:

DataWhat it’s used for
Bank account numbersUsed for fake invoices and direct debit fraud.
Partial credit card dataNot enough to spend, but enough to make a fake call from your bank convincing.
Payment historiesShows what you buy, which makes fake order and refund scams convincing.
Dates of birthUsed to prove who you are to banks and phone companies.
NamesMakes scam messages personal enough to believe.
Physical addressesUsed to prove who you are, and for scam letters and parcels.
Email addressesExpect scam emails that name the company to look genuine.
Phone numbersExpect scam texts and calls, and a higher risk of someone moving your number to their SIM.
GendersPersonal details that make scam messages more convincing.

What to do

  1. Check whether you’re in it.Search your email address on Have I Been Pwned. It tells you which breaches it appears in, Oxfam among them, without showing the data.
  2. Distrust messages that mention Oxfam.Scammers use breach data to sound genuine. Don’t click links in emails or texts about the breach; go to the site yourself.
  3. Put a PIN on your phone account.Ask your mobile provider for a port-out PIN, so no one can move your number to their SIM.
  4. Freeze your credit.In the US, free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. In Australia, ask Equifax, Experian and illion for a ban. No one can open credit in your name while it’s on.
  5. Watch your statements.Report anything you don’t recognise to your bank, and ask for a new card if full card numbers leaked.

Timeline

  • : the breach, as best it can be dated.
  • : Have I Been Pwned verifies the data and adds it to its search, 1 month later.

Similar breaches

Breaches that leaked the same kinds of data, closest in time:

See Breaches for all 618, and Updates for keeping your devices patched.

References

  1. ^ Troy Hunt. “Oxfam”, Have I Been Pwned, added 2 Mar 2021. Breach data licensed CC BY 4.0.