Asos warns customers about full extent of data breach after BBC contacted by hackers

Asos has told its customers hackers are in possession of detailed profiles of potentially millions of the online store’s users.

It issued the update after BBC News told the retailer it had been contacted by cyber criminals who said this week’s breach went beyond “basic contact details” Asos previously said might have been accessed.

Names, addresses, phone numbers, emails and customer numbers are now in the hands of cyber criminals.

So too are the searches customers have made on the website. Terms like “reclaimed vintage”, “glamorous wide fit” and “Asos petite” are visible in the data.

With this information, scammers may be able to craft potent phishing attack emails or phone calls.

The risk to individuals is now higher and customers are being warned about potential impersonation scams.

In its email to customers, Asos confirmed data profiles were taken but said no bank details or passwords were accessed.

“Please remain cautious of unexpected messages or calls claiming to be from Asos,” it said.

“We will never ask you to share passwords, security codes or payment details through an unsolicited message or call.”

The company did not respond to questions about the scale of the breach.

The high profile hack made global headlines on Tuesday when cyber criminals used Asos’s own app system to send a pop up notification to potentially millions of people.

Later that day the firm confirmed to shareholders via the London Stock Exchange that the pop up was sent by an “unauthorised third party” and “basic personal information including name and contact details may have been accessed.”

The company then sent an email to customers with similar wording.

On Wednesday evening the cyber criminals responsible contacted the BBC sharing a sample of the stolen data which showed the true extent of the hack.