HSBC loses details of 370,000 customers in the post

LONDON - UK retail bank HSBC has revealed the loss of a disk containing 370,000 of its customers' details. The loss occurred in March, when the bank mailed the disk between its offices in Southhampton and Folkestone. Details contained on the disk include names, life insurance cover details, dates of birth and other personal information. HSBC has apologised and is contacting all customers involved.

The new recalls the UK Revenue and Customs' admission of the loss of its child benefit database in transit between London and Newcastle in November last year. This latest data loss comes as a web security report from Symantec claims UK bank account details are now sold online for as little as £5. The report describes an industry of cyber-crime supermarkets made up of instant message groups and web forums. Thieves are especially interested in British details because they can be used across the European Union. In the final half of 2007, the study found black market packages of 50 credit card numbers for sale for £20 and bundles of 500 credit card numbers for £100.