Spammers grab slice of data

Pizza company Domino’s says some of its customers’ information may have been stolen and has set up an 0800 phone number for people who have concerns.

The stolen data included email addresses and Domino’s said a number of customers had received spam, but that their passwords and credit card details were safe.

It was investigating ‘‘a potential issue with a former supplier’s systems’’, it said.

That may have led to email addresses and details of the stores that customers had ordered from being stolen. But tests showed its own systems were secure and customers’ passwords and credit card details had not been compromised, it said.

The admission came after customers reported receiving suspicious emails from a ‘‘Sarah’’ asking them to confirm the suburb in which they lived.

Luke Chandler, from Christchurch, said he recalled ordering pizzas using the name ‘‘Professor Chandler’’ for laughs from Domino’s Mount Maunganui store last year. Sure enough, he received an email addressed to Professor Chandler asking if he was from Mount Maunganui.

Dozens of customers have reported their similar experiences online. After complaining to Domino’s, Chandler was told via Facebook private message to ‘‘rest assured our IT and information security teams are now hard at work resolving this issue’’.

Domino’s apologised and said it would work closely with ‘‘relevant privacy authorities’’ ‘‘to prevent this from happening again’’.

Spokeswoman Tracy Llewellyn confirmed the company had been in touch with the Privacy Commissioner about the incident.

Concerned customers could call Domino’s on a helpline (0800 292 000) it had established to provide more information.

Domino’s said there was no need for customers to change their passwords but advised them not click on links in the spam emails they received.