LNER Confirms Customer Data Breach: What You Need to Know and How to Stay Safe
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has confirmed it is notifying customers about a data security incident after one of its third-party suppliers was compromised. The breach has resulted in the exposure of some customer personal information, prompting an urgent warning for users to be on high alert for potential phishing scams.
The incident did not originate from LNER’s internal systems but rather from a security failure at a supplier responsible for processing online retail transactions. While the investigation is ongoing, LNER has begun contacting affected individuals directly via email to inform them of the situation and provide guidance.
What Information Was Exposed?
It is crucial to understand exactly what data was, and was not, compromised in this breach. According to the information released, the exposed data is limited to basic personal details.
The compromised information includes:
- Customer names
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
Most importantly, LNER has provided reassurance on the security of more sensitive information. The company has stated that no passwords or financial information, such as bank or credit card details, were accessed or stolen during the incident. This significantly reduces the immediate risk of financial fraud stemming directly from this breach.
The Primary Risk: Targeted Phishing Attacks
While the absence of financial data and passwords is a relief, the stolen information still poses a significant security risk. Cybercriminals are highly skilled at using names, email addresses, and phone numbers to launch sophisticated and highly convincing phishing campaigns.
With this information, criminals can craft targeted emails or text messages (known as “smishing”) that appear to be legitimate communications from LNER or another trusted organization. These messages often create a sense of urgency, such as claiming there is a problem with your account or offering a fake refund, to trick you into clicking a malicious link or revealing more sensitive data.
Actionable Steps to Protect Yourself
Given the nature of the exposed data, vigilance is your best defense. All LNER customers, whether they have been notified of the breach or not, should adopt the following security measures immediately:
Be Skeptical of All Communications: Treat any unsolicited email, text message, or phone call claiming to be from LNER with extreme caution. Scammers will use the company’s name to gain your trust.
Verify the Sender: Before clicking any links, carefully inspect the sender’s email address. Scammers often use addresses that are similar to official ones but have slight misspellings or different domains (e.g.,
lner-support.cominstead oflner.co.uk).Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Do not click on links or download attachments from unexpected messages. If you need to access your LNER account, navigate directly to the official website by typing the address into your browser or using the official LNER app.
Never Share Sensitive Information: LNER and other legitimate companies will never ask you to provide your password, full credit card number, or other sensitive personal details via email or text. Any message requesting this information is fraudulent.
LNER’s Official Response
LNER is taking the matter seriously and is working to manage the situation. The company has reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator, in line with its legal obligations.
The primary focus for now is on ensuring all affected customers are made aware of the breach and understand the steps they need to take to protect themselves from subsequent scams. If you are an LNER customer, be sure to monitor your email for any official communication from the company, but remember to verify its authenticity before taking any action.
Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/09/11/lner_says_customer_data_stolen/
