South African retail bank African Bank has confirmed that one of its debt recovery partners, Debt-IN, was targeted by a ransomware attack in April 2021. 

Expert security advice determined at the time that there was no indication that the ransomware assault resulted in a data leak – nevertheless, Debt-IN is now aware of the fact that the personal information of some customers, including several African Bank Loan customers under debt review, has been breached. 

Debt-IN is certain that no data communicated after April 1, 2021, has been compromised, as per the bank. 

It stated, “A robust mitigation plan has been implemented by Debt-IN to contain and reduce any further adverse impact.”

“We have been collaborating with Debt-IN to address this breach. We have notified the relevant regulatory authorities and we are also in the process of alerting customers who have been affected, via email and SMS.” 

African Bank's fraud prevention team has significantly enhanced security safeguards to protect all clients as an added precaution. 

“If you detect any suspicious activity, or feel that your information has been compromised, you can apply for a free Protective Registration listing with the Southern African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS),” the bank added. 

“This will alert banks and credit providers that an identity has been compromised. You can apply by emailing protection@safps.org.za.” 

Customers of African Bank can contact 0861 111 011 if they detect suspicious activity on their accounts. The breach is the most recent in a string of high-profile data breaches and cyber assaults in South Africa this year. 

Following an investigation into the data breach at Experian in August 2020, the Hawks caught a 36-year-old suspect in Gauteng last week (15 September). 

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) stated that Experian, a consumer credit reporting firm, has suffered a data breach, compromising the personal information of millions of South Africans. 

Experian initially disclosed that there had been a data breach that leaked personal details of up to 24 million South Africans and 793,749 business enterprises to a potential criminal. 

In recent months, the Justice Department was also targeted by a ransomware attack, and it is currently working to restore its systems. In July, Transnet was also targeted in a similar manner.