DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

How to lose a customer with one email gaffe, Tuesday edition

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Dissent

An Account Executive at Square wanted to introduce herself to clients in her area, so she sent a friendly email to them today:

Hi there,

I wanted to reach out to let you know my team realigned territories and I will be your new point of contact moving forward.

I’d love to set up a call to introduce myself and learn more about your business.

Please let me know what day/time works best for you.

Thanks,
[Name redacted by DataBreaches.net]

Unfortunately, the account executive used the To: field instead of the BCC: field, thereby exposing 26 recipients’ email addresses to each other. Some of the email addresses incorporated the individuals’ names in part or whole.

One of the recipients immediately cancelled their account, responding:

Congratulations — You just leaked all of the account e-mail addresses in your territory. Please contact whoever is in charge of security and cancel my account immediately.

I want to see a response in the next two hours telling me that you are handling the problem and canceling my account. I will re-evaluate whether I will sign up again after I hear your explanation and how you plan to  prevent future lapses.

Thank you,
[Name redacted by DataBreaches.net]

Within hours, the hapless account executive replied:

Dear [Redacted],

I went ahead and deactivated your Square account. I sincerely apologize for my mistake and have notified my manager. I can assure you that we have been working to take the appropriate steps to resolve this issue.

I would be happy to jump on a call with a member of our security team to talk more about your concerns and how we can be of any additional help. If you would like to take this route please let me know a time that is good for you.

Once again, this is a mistake we are taking very seriously and I sincerely apologize.

Best Regards,

[name and phone number redacted by DataBreaches.net]

“How they can be of any additional help?” The customer doesn’t need additional help. THEY need a plan to keep customers’ information protected.


Related:

  • Inquiry launched after identities of SAS soldiers leaked in fresh data breach
  • Government will 'robustly defend' compensation claims from Afghans put at risk by data breach
  • Qantas obtains injunction to prevent hacked data’s release
  • Ransomware attack disrupts Korea's largest guarantee insurer
  • More than 100 British government personnel exposed by Ministry of Defence data leak
  • Gladney Adoption Center had serious data exposures in the past few months. What will they do to prevent more?
Category: Business SectorExposure

Post navigation

← Iowa State IT staff discover unauthorized access to servers
Healthcare security stuck in Stone Age →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Scattered Spider Hijacks VMware ESXi to Deploy Ransomware on Critical U.S. Infrastructure
  • Hacker group “Silent Crow” claims responsibility for cyberattack on Russia’s Aeroflot
  • AIIMS ORBO Portal Vulnerability Exposing Sensitive Organ Donor Data Discovered by Researcher
  • Two Data Breaches in Three Years: McKenzie Health
  • Scattered Spider is running a VMware ESXi hacking spree
  • BreachForums — the one that went offline in April — reappears with a new founder/owner
  • Fans React After NASCAR Confirms Ransomware Breach
  • Allianz Life says ‘majority’ of customers’ personal data stolen in cyberattack (1)
  • Infinite Services notifying employees and patients of limited ransomware attack
  • The safe place for women to talk wasn’t so safe: hackers leak 13,000 user photos and IDs from the Tea app

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Congress tries to outlaw AI that jacks up prices based on what it knows about you
  • Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature is now blocked by Brave and AdGuard
  • Trump Administration Issues AI Action Plan and Series of AI Executive Orders
  • Indonesia asked to reassess data privacy terms in new U.S. trade deal
  • Meta Denies Tracking Menstrual Data in Flo Health Privacy Trial
  • Wikipedia seeks to shield contributors from UK law targeting online anonymity
  • British government reportedlu set to back down on secret iCloud backdoor after US pressure

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.