Scots join class action suit against M&S after hackers stole personal data

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It comes after the Sunday Mail revealed Thompsons Solicitors have launched a class action suit last week which could result in compensation payouts of several hundred pounds per customer.

The high street giant is facing leagl action after the firm was forced to admit that hackers have obtained information which could include the telephone numbers, home addresses, dates of birth and online ordering histories of millions of people.

Hundreds of Scottish customers have joined a class action against M&S after the Sunday Mail revealed the retail giant is facing a multi-million-pound case for failing to keep personal data safe.

It comes after hackers obtained customer and staff information that could include phone numbers, home addresses, dates of birth and online ordering histories of millions of people in a cyberattack in April.

We revealed Thompsons Solicitors have launched a class action suit last week which could result in compensation payouts of several hundred pounds per customer.

Marks & Spencer have paused all online and app orders due to a 'cyber incident'(Image: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The firm has been inundated with hundreds of enquiries from Scottish M&S customers who fear their personal information has been stolen.

Industry experts have estimated the total bill for compensation claims in the UK could top £100million and the firm is already estimated to have lost £300million in potential profits because of crippled online shopping systems.

Patrick McGuire a senior partner with Thompsons Solicitors Scotland said: “Since The Sunday Mail highlighted the launch of our class action against Marks and Spencers, we have been contacted by many more additional Scottish victims of the data theft.

“We currently have just over 300 participants in the law suit and we expect that to increase substantially in the coming weeks and months. Worryingly, a significant percentage of our new clients have already been contacted by scammers which can cause distress.

“Data theft is a serious crime and Marks and Spencers’ inability to protect their loyal customers is unacceptable and my team will ensure they receive proper compensation.”

At one point more than £1.2billion had been wiped off the market value of M&S since it was crippled by hackers last month.

Senior partner Patrick McGuire said M&S has left customers vulnerable to criminal scams by failing protect customers’ data - which it is required to do by law.-

The company is still not taking online orders, there are empty shelves at some branches and it is reported to have lost up to £3.5million a day.

M&S’s Sparks loyalty programme had 18million members and customers have been asked to reset account passwords.

Hacker group Scattered Spider is alleged to have utilised a contractor to access the retailer’s IT systems.

DragonForce, believed to be behind a ransomware attack on the Co-op, said its affiliates are responsible.

In April, hackers infiltrated IT networks and stole Co-op customer and staff data. DragonForce claimed to have the private details of 20million customers in Co-op’s membership scheme.