Frequent Hacking Leaves Consumers Frustrated Over Unusable Coupons

[Anchor]

It is not just the financial sector that has been breached. Any company holding customer data, such as mobile gift certificate sales sites, has become a target of attacks, leading to a series of damages. As even service usage is disrupted, consumers are left bearing the brunt of the fallout.

Reporter An Huijae has the story.

[Reporter]

This is a mobile coupon that can be used across Lotte Group affiliates.

Called Giftiel, it allows for convenient product exchanges and is widely used for gifting.

However, SBS has received a flurry of reports that it recently stopped working.

Even when trying to exchange a ticket at a movie theater in Seoul,

[The Giftiel site is under maintenance, so it probably won't work.]

Attempts to exchange drinks at cafes are also repeatedly blocked.

[(They said it didn't work at the theater.) Then it probably won't work with us either.]

Notices stating that coupons cannot be used have been posted on fast-food restaurant kiosks as well.

[If you don't have much time left on the expiration date, you have to call this number and ask them about refunds or extensions.]

[Affected Consumer: They just unilaterally sent a notification ending the coupon event. Personal information leakage is one thing, but I can't even figure out what's going on or use the coupon benefits I wanted...]

The operating company stated, "We had the personal information of about 18,000 people stolen in an external hacking attack, and we had to suspend the service while preparing security measures."

It added, "We plan to normalize operations by November 4 and extend the expiration date of all coupons by 30 days."

Allegations have also been raised that a major coffee franchise retained information even from members who had already withdrawn their accounts, which was then stolen by hackers.

With hacker attacks rapidly spreading beyond the financial sector to industries holding personal information, critics point out that comprehensive measures at the government authority level are urgently needed.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin, VJ: Lee Ji-hwan)

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