No security breach, says British Gas

BRITISH Gas has reassured customers their personal details haven’t been hacked, following concerns raised by a Saddleworth doctor.

Dr Andrew Taylor, chairman of the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, complained after receiving a rogue email purporting to be from the energy giant. The email contained correct personal details he believed could only have come from his British Gas customer details.

A British Gas spokesman said: “Only a small number of customers received the scam email. We do not believe there has been an internal security breach.”

Dr Taylor, Oldham Mountain Rescue Team’s physician, is now pressing British Gas to provide him with the details they hold on him.

He said: “I hope they are right, but I cannot imagine that just a few customers’ details have been somehow obtained.

“Surely all customers’ details are on one database and if someone has illicit access to that database they have the potential for more harm.

“I have been told that banking details are kept separately, and see that as a reasonable statement describing a secure system, but if one database is vulnerable, how safe is the next?

“I am reassured, but not completely, and will have to be vigilant.”

British Gas customers who are concerned about the scam should call 0800-048 0505 or visit www.britishgas.co.uk.