Insurance giant Zurich has said it had lost a tape containing the personal details of 51,000 UK customers back in August 2008.
The group said the back-up tape was lost during a routine transfer to a data storage centre in South Africa. It said it had no evidence that the data had been used for criminal purposes, but it has written to all customers who may have been affected advising them to take precautions including advising people to speak to their banks and other financial providers.
Zurich UK has offered the 51,000 general insurance customers, who include both individuals and small businesses, free identity theft protection and free protection registration with the UK’s anti-fraud prevention service CIFAS.
The group declined to comment on why it had taken more than a year for the loss of the data to come to light. It went on to say it had appointed KPMG to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and to help it strengthen its data security procedures.
But it said its own investigation into the loss of the tape had revealed deficiencies in the management of data tape security procedures in South Africa.
Zurich UK has set up a dedicated helpline for customers who are affected on 08000 152 183. Information is also available at www.zurich.co.uk/id.
