Warning Issued to Sainsbury’s Customers After Two Years of Nectar Points Stolen
A warning has been issued to Sainsbury’s customers after a shopper reported having two years of her Nectar points stolen. The incident has prompted cybersecurity experts to urge customers to take a fresh look at their accounts to prevent potentially criminal activity.
According to a report, This is Money revealed earlier this year that Nectar had introduced a ‘lock’ feature on its loyalty card scheme, meaning any account can be frozen until the customer decides to spend their reward points. The announcement came after an investigation revealed that 12.5 million Nectar points worth nearly £63,000 had been stolen from readers over the period of a year.
The stolen points were reportedly accumulated over a year, with most of them being refunded by Sainsbury’s, which owns Nectar. However, the incident has raised concerns about the security of Nectar accounts, with experts warning customers to be vigilant.
"It’s especially important to monitor accounts more often just before Christmas," Jake Moore, Eset’s Global Security Advisor, told The Daily Mail. "This is usually when criminals target accounts with points that have been accumulated over the year."
Moore added that accounts should be checked frequently to detect and report any unauthorised actions promptly. Only primary users of the account should be able to lock and unlock spending on their Nectar accounts with the new locking feature, while additional collectors will only be able to collect points.
The locking feature was brought in to allow customers to start saving their points again without fear of them being stolen by fraudsters. A Nectar spokesperson told The Daily Mail: "Nectar is one of the UK’s biggest loyalty schemes, with over 23 million members. The security of our customer accounts is our highest priority and the proportion of those impacted by fraud each year is very small."
The spokesperson added that Nectar has a range of measures which detect, and in many cases prevent fraud, including the Spend Lock feature. "Our Nectar Helpline team are on hand to support any customer who suspects they may have been a victim of fraud," the spokesperson said.
The incident highlights the importance of monitoring accounts regularly to prevent potentially criminal activity. Customers are advised to check their accounts frequently, especially during peak periods such as Christmas.
In a recent incident, a customer reported on social media that 3,000 points had been stolen from her account after they were used in a Twickenham branch. The customer posted: "Someone has stolen 3,000 of my Nectar points? I have never been to Twickenham in my life and I have been saving these points for two years to help pay for Christmas. Please look into this."
The incident has prompted experts to urge customers to take a fresh look at their accounts to prevent potentially criminal activity. By monitoring accounts regularly and taking advantage of features such as the Spend Lock, customers can help protect their Nectar points from being stolen.
Protecting Your Nectar Points
To protect your Nectar points, it’s essential to monitor your account regularly. Here are some tips to help you keep your points safe:
- Check your account frequently to detect and report any unauthorised actions promptly
- Only primary users of the account should be able to lock and unlock spending on their Nectar accounts with the new locking feature
- Additional collectors will only be able to collect points
- Take advantage of features such as the Spend Lock to prevent potentially criminal activity
By following these tips, you can help protect your Nectar points from being stolen and enjoy the benefits of being a Sainsbury’s customer.
What to Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Fraud
If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of fraud, it’s essential to contact Nectar’s Helpline team immediately. They will be able to support you and help you resolve the issue.
A Nectar spokesperson told The Daily Mail: "Our Nectar Helpline team are on hand to support any customer who suspects they may have been a victim of fraud."
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Monitor your account regularly, and take advantage of features such as the Spend Lock to prevent potentially criminal activity.
The Daily Mail will continue to provide updates on this story as more information becomes available.
