Hackers claim to have leaked customer details from some of China's biggest banks

Two banks say data leaked on RaidForums is false, but a forum staff member says it’s already been sold “to many happy customers”

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Hackers claim to have leaked customer details from some of China's biggest banks

Published: 7:16pm, 15 Apr 2020Updated: 7:16pm, 15 Apr 2020

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

A hacking forum user recently posted more than a million pieces of personal information that allegedly comes from some of China’s biggest financial institutions. The data, published on RaidForums, includes names, monthly incomes, ID cards, addresses and phone numbers.

A couple banks are already denying the authenticity of the data. Industrial Bank told local media outlet 21st Century Business Herald on Tuesday that the data does not match their customer list, and it wouldn’t exclude the possibility that the information is forged. Ping An Insurance also said the data is forged. And the Agricultural Bank of China said it was investigating the claims.

But a RaidForums staff member told Abacus they believe “the data he is selling is real as he has sold it to many happy customers.” The person added that the forum has nothing to do with the sale and doesn’t profit from it.

This is not the first time Chinese users had to worry about personal data leaks. (Picture: Frederic J. Brown/AFP)

On its Facebook page, though, RaidForums boasts about its dedication to leaked data. The forum describes itself as a place for “Twitch raiding and the 4chan community.” It adds that it likes to “dump databases from hacked websites and light up your day with cancer.”

Other financial institutions listed in the two posts from the person selling the data include Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and China Merchants Bank. And in addition to Ping An, major insurance companies AIA Group and China Life are mentioned, too.