Adidas Canada has confirmed a data breach that may have exposed personal information belonging to some of its customers. The athletic wear giant sent an email to affected individuals on Friday morning, informing them of an incident involving unauthorized access through a third-party customer service provider.
The company emphasized that the breach did not involve sensitive financial information like passwords or credit card numbers. Still, it acknowledged that certain personal data may have been compromised.
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What Information Was Affected?
According to Adidas Canada, the breach primarily involved data belonging to Canadians who previously contacted their customer service help desk. While payment details and login credentials were not part of the breach, other types of personal information may have been accessed. These include:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Gender
- Date of birth
This type of information, while not directly tied to financial accounts, could still be misused in phishing attacks or identity verification scams.
How Did the Breach Happen?
The incident stemmed from a vulnerability in a third-party customer service provider. An unauthorized external party gained access to certain customer data through this provider.
Once the breach was discovered, Adidas Canada took swift action to investigate and contain the situation. Measures taken included:
- Enhancing security protocols
- Resetting internal passwords related to customer service accounts
- Notifying affected customers
What Adidas Canada Is Saying
In the notification email, Adidas Canada reassured customers that there is currently no evidence of identity theft or fraud resulting from the breach. However, the company encourages customers to remain alert.
“Although, as always, please remain vigilant and look out for any suspicious messages,” the company stated. “Adidas will never directly contact you to ask that you provide us with financial information, such as your credit card details, bank account information, or passwords.”
What Should You Do If You’re Affected?
As of now, Adidas Canada has not recommended any specific actions for customers to take. However, general safety practices are always advised:
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails or calls asking for personal information
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links
- Monitor your accounts for unusual activity
- Enable multi-factor authentication where possible
If you have concerns or questions about this incident, Adidas Canada’s customer service is available to assist.
Looking Ahead: Transparency and Responsibility
While the number of affected customers has yet to be confirmed, this breach underscores the risks associated with third-party service providers. Adidas Canada’s response appears proactive, but the incident highlights the importance of maintaining strong data protection practices at every level of customer interaction.
The company concluded its alert by apologizing for the inconvenience and promised ongoing efforts to safeguard customer data.
