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Ballincollig Credit Union has issued a notice to its members informing them of a potential security breach involving Cabot Financial Ireland Limited, a third-party service provider tasked with managing credit control services for the credit union. Cabot Financial is currently investigating an ongoing cyber security incident, though it is unclear if personal data from Ballincollig Credit Union’s debtors has been compromised.

The incident has been reported to State authorities, including An Garda Síochána, and efforts to fully understand the extent of the breach are underway. Cabot Financial has stated that they are collaborating with expert third parties to assess the situation and ensure any potential risks to customers’ personal data are addressed.

In the notice, Ballincollig Credit Union reassures members that their PIN numbers, used to log into the online Member Log In system, are not stored on Cabot’s systems and have not been affected. However, the credit union strongly advises members to remain cautious and not disclose their PIN numbers to any third parties, noting that they will never request a full PIN number in communications or for login purposes.

As a precaution, members are urged to be vigilant against phishing attempts. Phishing, a form of fraudulent activity, often involves emails, phone calls, or texts that appear to come from trusted sources, such as financial institutions, and attempt to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information. Ballincollig Credit Union warns that criminals may claim to be acting on behalf of the credit union or Cabot to gain personal information. Members should be suspicious of unsolicited communications, especially if asked to provide banking details, PIN numbers, or passwords.

Ballincollig Credit Union encourages members to follow guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre and the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland to protect themselves from fraud. This information is available on the Fraud Smart website and includes steps to avoid phishing scams.

As of now, there is no confirmation on whether any personal data has been accessed, but both Ballincollig Credit Union and Cabot Financial are treating the situation seriously. Updates will be provided to members as soon as new information becomes available.

Any members concerned about the incident or who may have been targeted by phishing attempts are advised to contact Ballincollig Credit Union directly on 021-4872305.

For more information, you can visit Ballincollig Credit Union’s website or Cabot Financial’s website, where further updates will be posted.