In the midst of the pandemic, a travel agency, The Travel Professionals, found itself entangled in a cybercrime web, losing over £40,000 in a travel agency data breach incident.
The incident unfolded during the summer of 2020 when the company, operating with just ten staff members, was diligently processing refunds for customers. Unfortunately, an email hack disrupted their efforts, leading to financial loss.
The Travel Professionals cyberattack resulted in £43,432 being diverted into a bank account opened by Eghosa Odeh, a 40-year-old resident of Queensway, Southampton. Despite a comprehensive police investigation, only £3 has been recovered so far.
The Travel Professionals data breach incident: What happened?
The Travel Professionals, headquartered in Cobham, Surrey, had initiated a customer reimbursement process at the onset of the pandemic. To facilitate refunds, the company requested customers to provide their bank details. However, The Travel Professionals data breach led to a crucial mix-up, with staff inadvertently receiving Odeh’s details instead.
The fraudulent activity came to light when The Travel Professionals, realizing the discrepancy, promptly reported the incident to the Fraud Hotline. The company expressed the severity of the situation, stating that they had been cheated out of £43,000.
During legal proceedings, Odeh, facing charges of possession of criminal property, did not fully cooperate with the investigation. He refused to provide his PIN when requested, complicating the case further. In court, Keely Harvey, the prosecutor, highlighted the impact of the travel agency data breach and the subsequent financial loss suffered by the organization.
The Travel Professionals data breach: Legal battles!
Anisha Kiri, representing Odeh, appealed to the court for leniency, emphasizing the defendant’s low risk, remorse, and positive probation service report. Kiri told to Daily Echo, “He is very apologetic and can understand the impact on the victim. He has done good work for the community. This is not a man who needs a custodial sentence to teach him what he has done is wrong.”
Despite acknowledging Odeh’s lack of previous convictions and successful career in pharmacology, Recorder Gemma White emphasized the tangible impact on The Travel Professionals. While opting not to impose a custodial sentence, White-handed Odeh had a 22-week jail term, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, Odeh was mandated to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
Looking ahead, a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is scheduled for March 28 next year to assess the possibility of recovering any additional funds.
The Travel Professionals, still uncompensated for their losses, serves as a poignant example of the real-world consequences of cybercrime on businesses, emphasizing the need for better cybersecurity measures across industries.
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