the abandoned complaint form, instructions for protecting your rights

The Free piracy affair takes a new turn. While the CNIL had announced the establishment of an online form to facilitate the filing of complaints by victims, this project was suddenly abandoned.

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Concrete actions to take after the Free data leak

A change in strategy which leaves in embarrassment the approximately 20 million customers potentially affected by this major cyberattack, 5 million of whom saw their IBAN fall into the hands of cybercriminals.

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Free and SFR Piracy: are you one of those affected?

This about-face raises questions. The form, which was to be hosted on the website cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, had nevertheless proven itself during previous cyberattacks, notably that targeting Viamedis and Almerys last February. The procedure then made it possible to file a complaint in just three minutes, without physical travel.

Contacted by several media, the authorities remain evasive on the reasons for this abandonment. Neither the CNIL nor the public prosecutor's office have provided clear explanations, which casts doubt on a possible fear of being overwhelmed by the number of complaints.

Concrete solutions for victims

Faced with this situation, two main options are available to victims:

1. File a complaint with the CNIL if you believe that Free has not sufficiently protected your data. Note that this process first requires an exchange with the operator and its Data Protection Officer (DPO).
2. Go physically to a police station or gendarmerie in the event of fraudulent use of your data with identity theft or unauthorized payments.

For customers affected by IBAN theft, vigilance is required.

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Concrete actions to take after the Free data leak

It is advisable to:

• Monitor your bank statements regularly
• Activate payment alerts from your bank
• Check and update the list of authorized creditors
• Quickly dispute any suspicious direct debit within 13 months (or 70 days for non-EU payments)

Good news: Free has since set up a free toll-free number (0 805 921 100) to support affected subscribers. This service is available every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Please note that simple possession of the IBAN is not enough to carry out fraudulent direct debits. However, combined with other stolen personal data, it can facilitate fraud attempts. We must therefore be extra vigilant in the face of suspicious SMS, emails or calls which could multiply in the weeks to come.