Helping to reduce the impact of cyber and computer crime.
Cybercrime is big news. It’s almost impossible to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television without hearing about how some organisation has been hacked with thousands of customers put at risk. As such, cybercrime is now a real threat to businesses and individuals. So, it’s no wonder that consumer confidence is lacking and computer crime compensation claims are on the rise.
In some cases, these hacks are massive news stories following attacks against the likes of Ticketmaster, Equifax and British Airways. But, as well as working on big group actions, every day, we also help people come to terms with smaller cybercrimes that have a severe and often lasting impact on them.
What do you need to know about cybercrime?
Who is at fault?
While in some instances, cybercrime is difficult to avoid, often it is made possible because an organisation has not put the necessary prevention methods in place to keep your data safe.
To make matters worse, many companies are falling short of what we would expect when a failure in data privacy occurs. In our experience, companies and their representatives (be they legal or insurance based) are still responding with a pre-packaged “we won’t do it again” approach. This fails to recognise the full impact of the breach, which can be significant and of a psychological nature.
So claiming compensation isn’t just in your best interests. The only way these organisations will be persuaded to take their responsibilities seriously and make the necessary improvements is by hurting their bottom line.
If you have become the victim of cybercrime because of such negligence, you may be able to claim compensation. At Hayes Connor Solicitors, we’ve been helping people to achieve the redress they deserve for over 50 years, so we know what it takes to make a successful cybercrime claim.
To find out more about computer crime compensation contact us today for a free initial assessment.
The full impact of the cybercrime is not always immediate.
Cybercrime can lead to your personal and sensitive data getting into the wrong hands through the creation and spreading of viruses, hacking, and the use of counterfeit software, In the worst cases, this can lead to you falling victim to financial fraud and identity theft.
Dealing with hundreds of different types of data hack cases, the one thing that has become apparent to our solicitors is that the full impact is often not felt until months after the initial violation.
The impact of cybercrime can be devastating and we have seen cases where the financial losses only start to occur three to six months later. This is often because data stolen is used in batches over time. According to one report, the stolen personal data of UK citizens is selling for as little as £10 on the dark web. The data offered provides more than enough information for hackers to commit cybercrimes.
Following the 2018 Ticketmaster data breach, some nine months after the hack, 63% of all the clients we took on suffered multiple fraudulent transactions on their payment cards. What’s more, 31% of all our clients involved in this case suffered from distress and/or psychological trauma as a result of having their card details stolen and used in fraudulent activity. We’ve seen cases where experiencing a data breach has resulted in adverse life events such as having to move house or area, losing a job, relationship stress and separation, and dislocation from friends and family. All of which can lead to a diagnosable psychological injury.
At Hayes Connor Solicitors, we help our clients to make compensation claims after their data was put at risk by the organisations they trusted to look after it.
Reporting cybercrime to the police.
If you want to report that you have been the victim of online fraud or identity theft, contact Action Fraud. You can do this online or via telephone. Action Fraud is the national fraud reporting service, and is the starting point for any police investigation into your loss. For any other form of cybercrime such as online stalking, harassment, or fears about sexual grooming, you should contact the police directly.
If someone is convicted of a cybercrime against you, the court may order them to pay you compensation.
Where the authorities are not interested, we can assist with a private prosecution.
How to stay safe following data privacy hack.
Here are a few steps to help protect your personal information following a data hack:
Change your passwords on all your accounts.
Register with a suitable fraud prevention service.
Consider a credit freeze until the matter is resolved.
Beware of fraudsters who attempt to gather personal information (phishing).
Keep an eye on your credit score for any unexpected dips (register for updates).
Let the credit reference agencies know of any activity that was not down to you.
Register with the Cifas protective registration service. This will slow down credit applications made in your name with additional verification checks made to ascertain that the applicant is actually you.
If you are worried that your financial details have been exposed, contact your bank/credit card provider immediately and ask them to keep a close eye on your account and request a new card.
Look out for any bills or emails showing goods or services you haven’t ordered, or any unfamiliar transactions on your account and alert your bank or card provider immediately if there is any suspicious activity.
Report any suspected phishing attempts to the police and relevant authorities (Action Fraud).
Making a cybercrime compensation claim.
If you want the court to consider awarding you compensation, you need to tell the police. You also need to give them details about any damage or distress you have suffered. The police will pass this information to the Crown Prosecution Service and it will make the request for compensation in court. However, in criminal proceedings, it can be difficult to persuade the prosecutor to seek a compensation order (following a conviction).
Where the authorities are not interested, or where you do not want to make a criminal case, we can assist with a private prosecution. With this approach, your case goes before a judge in a civil trial. Often these cases are settled out of court. Proceedings can be started quickly, without the uncertainty associated with whether the prosecutor will investigate the case.
However, a wide range of factors will determine whether this is possible and how successful you are likely to be. This includes whether the fraudster is located overseas, how many people suffered because of the fraud (the total number of claimants) and whether money is available for compensation. Many such cases result in out-of-court settlements.
Company negligence leading to cybercrime.
Over the last few years, mobile phone networks, tech firms, retailers, and banks have all hit the headlines due to data security breaches. In many cases, these offences were made possible due to poor IT and data management practices.
So, as well as going after the criminal, you can also make a cybercrime claim to hold these organisations account for such breaches.
Credit card compensation following cybercrime.
If you pay for something using a credit card and are the victim of fraud, you are afforded an extra level of protection.
Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, customers who have a claim against a seller for breach of contract or misrepresentation may also have an equal claim against their credit card company. Just as importantly, you can pursue a claim against both parties at the same time.
Purchases of between £100 and £30,000 made wholly or partially with a credit card are protected under the act. We’ll advise you on whether you can claim compensation from your credit card company for any losses.
Expert cybercrime claim solicitors.
Our professional, friendly team will be pleased to answer any questions you might have, and advise you on whether you have a valid claim.
If you have a straightforward claim, our quick claims form will help you to start this quickly and easily. This means you receive your compensation in the shortest possible time. However, if we believe you have a large, complex case, we’ll go through your options and may be able to act for you on a NO WIN, NO FEE basis.
Types of cybercrime claims.
We can help you to claim compensation for a range of cybercrime violations including:
Identity Theft
Hacking
Phishing
Cyberextortion
Data Protection Breaches & Other Data Leaks
Fraud & Financial Crimes
Copyright Infringements
Online
Harassment
Damage and distress.
To claim compensation, you must be able to prove that you suffered as a result of the breach. This includes financial and medical harm, as well as anguish and anxiety.
Financial losses.
Cybercrime can result in both financial and/or identity theft. And the result of either of these can be devastating. With enough information, cybercriminals can apply for credit in your name, set up fraudulent bank accounts and access your existing accounts.
Distress.
Even if you haven’t lost out financially after a data breach, this doesn’t mean that there is “no harm done.” A personal data breach is a 21st-century version of being burgled. If a criminal came into your home and stole your private information, you would be distressed. So why should you feel any less upset at having your online data taken?
Being the victim of a crime can have a significant impact on you mentally and physically. Of course, everyone reacts differently, but for some people, the effects can include a lack of sleep, feeling ill, unsettled or confused. Stress can also affect your friends, your family and your job. So being told to just “get over it” isn’t helpful.
Start your cybercrime claim today.
At Hayes Connor Solicitors, we understand that making a compensation claim can be stressful; especially where you have already been the victim of a crime. That’s why we make sure you always know what’s happening with your case and remove the jargon from the process.
Our process is fully compliant with data protection guidance and we never put your details at risk.
We make sure you are fully compensated for any loss or distress caused. However, with strict time limits in place for making computer compensation claims, it’s important to act now.
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Hayes Connor Solicitors, First Floor, Old Town Hall, Victoria Square, Widnes, WA8 7QZ