Australian-Coins Forum

Numismatic Discussion => Coin Chit Chat => Topic started by: ausproofs on June 23, 2015, 07:43:41 PM

Title: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: ausproofs on June 23, 2015, 07:43:41 PM
Hi Folks,

Just got a letter from PCGS today. It seems there has been an incident where some of user credentials  shared with others erroneously. I have attached a picture of the letter I received today. As a precaution you may want to change your password.

[attachment=3243]
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: matttheriley on June 24, 2015, 01:26:47 AM
Oops!
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: Ozcoins on June 25, 2015, 09:02:46 AM
If it was me receiving that letter, I would want to know a lot more about what went on, to work out what to do next.
Examples from each end of the scale:
1 .It was it someone bad deliberately getting personal details of people to target to steal their collections
2. Someone made an error and sent your details to another PCGS member.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: ausproofs on June 25, 2015, 12:35:26 PM
It seem like the latter. In sayings that, it is a big issue if someone knows where you live !
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: robbiegal on June 25, 2015, 08:11:43 PM
hummm
just read the letter
no IT expert
but that sounds to me like "a hack" took place!!
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: nealeffendi on June 28, 2015, 02:30:40 PM
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='74856' dateline='1435228903'hummm
just read the letter
no IT expert
but that sounds to me like "a hack" took place!!

I also got this letter.
There have been multiple MAJOR hacks recently in the US. Just last week it came out that all personnel files of US government employees (over 3 million) have been hacked. Includes confidential files, Social Security numbers, email contact lists etc of  US military forces (including special forces and those with top clearance).
Almost certainly the Chinese government.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: Ozcoins on June 28, 2015, 06:55:34 PM
Did the people that received the letter access the site in the period mentioned in the letter?
If not, then it must have been someone else.
PCGS should actually have a very good idea if the access was from the correct members,  or from someone else,  based on IP addresses used during site access.
If site access has always been from certain IP addresses and after the leak new addresses show up, it's likely someone else.
Particularly if multiple affected members info was accessed from the same IP address.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: spraggdean23 on August 02, 2015, 05:50:39 PM
I have just had my debit card account cleaned out by fraudsters. On my statement a lot ot the transactions took place in California one in particular at Newport beach where Pcgs is. I hope they did not get my card number from Pcgs and I hope this does not happen to anyone else who uses Pcgs.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: ausjack on August 02, 2015, 06:02:23 PM
WOW I'm so sorry to hear that mate and hope there's some way of getting reimbursed from the bank :(

This is another reason why I don't have ANY cards at all, yes I can't do a lot of things but I feel better knowing I can't get ripped of either as that would kill me.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: spraggdean23 on August 02, 2015, 06:05:51 PM
Yeah I should get the money back from the bank. Now I have to figure out how they got my card details?
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: spraggdean23 on August 03, 2015, 04:31:16 PM
Does anyone else think I should contact Pcgs about this? Or is it merely coincidental there was a fraudualent transaction at Newport beach where Pcgs is located after I have recently paid for a submission with the card which has been fraudently used. I do not want this to happen to anyone else.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: Unicorn on August 03, 2015, 05:15:04 PM
It does seem very very coincidental. Imagine though if it was PCGS related and the person responsible was the one that receives your correspondence!!!
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: ausjack on August 03, 2015, 06:30:49 PM
I'd send one as it can't hurt and if it was them they can tighten their security but if they don't know and it was them it could quite easily happen again.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: ausproofs on August 03, 2015, 06:42:26 PM
Quote from: 'spraggdean23' pid='76941' dateline='1438585276'Does anyone else think I should contact Pcgs about this? Or is it merely coincidental there was a fraudualent transaction at Newport beach where Pcgs is located after I have recently paid for a submission with the card which has been fraudently used. I do not want this to happen to anyone else.

If I were you, I will be calling PCGS to see what they can say about the incident you had last week... worth a call.
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: ausjack on August 03, 2015, 06:58:42 PM
Yes that's a better idea and that way you can ask to speak to someone high up, good thinkin AP :good:
Title: RE: PCGS - Data Security issue (alert)
Post by: Ozcoins on August 03, 2015, 11:10:32 PM
Given the small amount of info divulged in the notification by PCGS of the problem they had,  I would suspect they
A. Do not know exactly what info was stolen
and/or
B. Will not talk to anyone about what they do know (to hide how bad it was)
Having said that, it seem unlikely that the location your card was used is at all related to where the info about your card was taken.