Genuine or a marketing ploy?

[Papillon61]

I have just received an email from a well known flavour supplier in the UK (that shall remain unnamed) telling its customers that they had a security breach today and for about an hour the names and addresses of some of their clients were visible. They said they estimate this only effected about 1% of their customer base. They apologized profusely and to compensate they were offering a 20 % discount on purchases.

But here is the clincher - this discount code can only be used this weekend!! Genuine or a subtle marketing ploy?! I don't know why I have to be so cynical but I am.

 

[SleeZy]

I would take that as a ploy tbh...
If they we're truly sorry for such a breach it would be limitless until used.

And since it only affected 1% i highly doubt it.
Once inside a database you'll get it all IF you want to. (If all the customers is inside the same database that is)
And that they would keep 1% of their userbase in a separate database i highly doubt.

Most if not all common sites utilizes one huge database, and once breached all the data is there. (usualy obfuscated though, and if it's usernames / passwords it's usualy salted)

Seems like a scam/trick/ploy to me.

 

[Papillon61]

I would take that as a ploy tbh...
If they we're truly sorry for such a breach it would be limitless until used.

That's right. In my way of thinking if they were genuinely sorry they should have given a discount - let's make it 10% if they can't afford 20 - for a one time only, use it when you like. As it is they are telling me there's a big chance my name and address were published to the world wide web but if I don't give them my custom this weekend well too bad then!

 

[Hans Wermhat]

I would be leery of buying anything from them. A hacker doesn't want user names and telephone #'s, they want card info. If they got hacked, there may be a security issue on their site now that could leave it open to a larger attack. Hell, I still won't use my bank card at Target. I guess maybe I'm a lil paranoid. Lol!

 

[miamc12321]

Having the coupon available for only the weekend doesn't seem right. You would think that a one time use coupon would be the way to go for this sort of thing as an 'apology' to their customers. That way, customers could use it when the wanted to.

 

[Jorge22]

Marketing ploy possibly...

Well, there are some really nice vendors out there and I've been able to speak with them for quite a while and learn a few things. On the flip side, you wouldn't believe how many say things like "it's incredible how the public can be so gullible!"

Business.

 

[SleeZy]

I would be leery of buying anything from them. A hacker doesn't want user names and telephone #'s, they want card info. If they got hacked, there may be a security issue on their site now that could leave it open to a larger attack. Hell, I still won't use my bank card at Target. I guess maybe I'm a lil paranoid. Lol!

They actually do, it's sellable sadly.
For adresses and such i would assume they're used for commercial and what not.

But that all a hacker wants is the CC is wrong. Sadly alot of ppl think this aswell.
Personal info and extras is highly valuable in the DW. (No i won't say what DW stands for as i would assume it's against the rules)

Edit: And usernames is even more valueable depending on what site that is targeted*
Username + mail + pw is most wanted above the CC frauds, sadly.

Edit2: IT Security is one of my other hobbies so that's why i'm telling my knowledge about frauds and what not.

 

[Papillon61]

I would be leery of buying anything from them. A hacker doesn't want user names and telephone #'s, they want card info. If they got hacked, there may be a security issue on their site now that could leave it open to a larger attack. Hell, I still won't use my bank card at Target. I guess maybe I'm a lil paranoid. Lol!

In the same email they claim :"No payment details are stored anywhere on our servers. They are only stored on Paypal's servers via a 128-bit encrypted connection".

 

[SleeZy]

In the same email they claim :"No payment details are stored anywhere on our servers. They are only stored on Paypal's servers via a 128-bit encrypted connection".

Which is also true if you payed via paypal.

 

[Thrasher]

Hmmm.

The way a scam like this would work is - so click this link now and start shopping.- meaning you just clicked into a fake website.

When i get stuff like this i immediately close the email and go to the site directly. 90% of the time you get there and........ Nothing.

Im constantly getting paypal warnings, when i sign in to the real paypay theres never anything there.

Another thing to check is details of sender, the address should always be from the same place you buy from. Not something like- this letter sent from ebay ( 123456gyt @ e.bay.blabla.net when it should be xxxxx@ebay.com

 

[Papillon61]

Oh I'm not saying it's a scam in that sense. Just saying it is rather devious on the part of the vendors and a very stingy sort of offer just to encourage you to hit those buttons this weekend.

And yes, I too got a fake Paypal email last Saturday. I reported it officially to Paypal - not even an acknowledgement form them.

 

[kaahn]

I have just received an email from a well known flavour supplier in the UK (that shall remain unnamed) telling its customers that they had a security breach today and for about an hour the names and addresses of some of their clients were visible. They said they estimate this only effected about 1% of their customer base. They apologized profusely and to compensate they were offering a 20 % discount on purchases.

But here is the clincher - this discount code can only be used this weekend!! Genuine or a subtle marketing ploy?! I don't know why I have to be so cynical but I am.

It's 20% off. If you were looking to spend the money anyway and they have something you want and you can't get it cheaper anywhere else I say take advantage of the sale regardless of whether it was a scam or not. You control your wallet. If you were not looking to spend the money or it wasn't in you budget just wait till the next deal. They roll around so frequently that I'm sure you can find a deal when its within your budget.

Edit: The only thing that would concern me is the security breach which would make me leary from buying anything through them. So on that thought I would say its not a clever ploy. If it is its kinda stupid on their part cause it could end up hurting their business in the long run.

 

[puffon]

At least they are offering something, if its true.
MFS did not notify me until a month after the breach, and no discounts offered.

 

[PressPlayVape]

Sounds strange to me.

 

[WillyZee]

I would flag it as spam.

 

[motordude]

Sounds like a plot by BT and BG and BP with antz to mess with your head.
But I could be wrong.

 

[Cowboy192]

I've spoken to the guys who run the company in question a fair few times and they really don't seem like the types to try and blag you into buying stuff especially by saying their site has been hacked, they have said it wasn't actually them who were hacked but the servers it was held on, they didn't have the full details and we're waiting for more info from the service providers,

But this is why I always use PayPal, and I'm not going to ignore 20% off the concentrate for my adv, I was going to buy some on Monday anyway

Oh and the code works

 

[Papillon61]

I'm going to stick to my guns and not buy anything. I bought from them last week. Honestly - I do think they are stingy. Give me only 5% if that is what you decide but let me use it whenever I want. If my particulars were revealed, even if it was not strictly their fault, they were revealed for all time not just for this weekend. And to be honest they are not exactly the cheapest vendors either. I can get the same flavours for 50p less from other sources. Their only attraction is that they have a wider choice.

 

[LewAz]

I would be leery of buying anything from them. A hacker doesn't want user names and telephone #'s, they want card info. If they got hacked, there may be a security issue on their site now that could leave it open to a larger attack. Hell, I still won't use my bank card at Target. I guess maybe I'm a lil paranoid. Lol!

Good point. I would add that perhaps it isn't the company sending the emails at all...but scammers.

 

[WindyCityJoe]

Yeah, thats what I want to do, make an online transaction this weekend with someone who just had a security breach.