Blind Customers have been defrauded by cyber criminals after the RNIB website was targeted by hackers.
Police have launched an investigation after card payment details of customers of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) were stolen by hackers in a cyber attack.
Up to 817 customers of the charity, which sells canes, eye shields and lighting for people with sight loss, may have been affected after the online shop was breached on 16 November. Fifty-five customers have already reported experiencing fraudulent activity of “ranging amounts.”
The RNIB, which supports the more than two million people in the UK affected by sight loss, was made aware of the hack on the 24th November, however it was three days before the breach was closed.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, a member of the Select Committee on Charities, described the attack as “horrible” and “more shocking” than the recent hack on Uber, which affected millions of people. He called for new Europe-wide regulation to tackle the problem.
He said: “It’s not the numbers that matter its the vulnerability of the people and people who are less able to protect themselves. “It’s a new low in this whole business.”
The RNIB has reported the breach to the police and the Information Commissioner’s Office, but the identity of the hacker is not yet known. The charity has contacted people thought to have been affected.
Sally Harvey, Chief Executive of RNIB, apologized for the “worry” the incident has caused and said: “We take our responsibility for keeping our customers’ details safe extremely seriously.”
