Optimal Payments investigating alleged data breaches

Optimal Payments said a small amount of its customers’ personal data has been compromised and is is in the public domain, and this could form part of a more material data breach.

The allegation made to the mobile payments company is that data breaches occurred in 2011 or before on its subsidiary NETELLER and in 2012 on the Moneybookers Ltd business, which is now called Skrill Limited and was bought earlier this year as part of its acquisition of Sentinel Topco.

Optimal said that in light of the allegations, it has commenced an investigation into the matter and the veracity of the allegations, and has informed both the Information Commissioner and the Financial Conduct Authority.

The company previously suffered two data breaches as a result of cyber attacks on NETELLER and Moneybookers in 2009 and 2010 but said no customers suffered any financial losses.

At 0948 GMT, Optimal Payments shares were down 17% to 307.25p.