‘Stalker’ EE shop worker accessed ex-girlfriend’s data

A woman was stalked by her ex-boyfriend after he accessed her personal data while working at EE. 

Francesca Bonafede’s telephone number was switched to a new handset by her former partner, who also got hold of her bank details and new address. 

Ms Bonafede, a doctoral researcher at the University of Westminster, claims the network giant did little to help her until she posted her chilling story online.  

Ms Bonafede said she was the victim of a ‘serious data breach’ and was given no update or apology by EE after she had told them what had happened.  

She first contacted the firm in February 2018 when her phone suddenly stopped working.

After five days with no signal, she was told someone had visited an EE shop, requested a new Sim card and switched the account to a new handset, according to the BBC.

Ms Bonafede said the employee – her former partner – accessed her personal account and changed her personal data. She said he then ‘stalked’ her. 

She said the worker altered her details and sent fraudulent documentation in her name to his own address. 

The PhD student said the man was also likely to have accessed photocopies of her passport and driving license which she provided to EE.

But Ms Bonafede said the data breach was not picked up on for some time, after which EE said there ‘must be an issue with the network.’

Ms Bonafede said she was the victim of a ‘serious data breach’ and was given no update or apology by EE after she had told them what had happened

Writing on Twitter, she added: ‘In one instance I was also told I would receive a phone call to update me on the situation but I was never contacted.

‘After days of having my phone out of action spent hours talking to different customer service agents without results, I finally talk to an agent which thankfully reads out the notes on my account. 

‘That’s how I discovered what had happened— according to the notes I visited a store, requested a new sim card and asked for my personal data to be altered and paper bills to be sent to the altered address. 

‘I obviously never visited a shop or requested any of the above.’

Ms Bonafede said the incident was ‘distressing.’ 

She told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme all texts and calls made to her during the period would have gone to her ex-partner. 

Writing on Twitter, she added: ‘In one instance I was also told I would receive a phone call to update me on the situation but I was never contacted’

Ms Bonafede does not know for sure why her ex-partner wanted to access her account data, but thinks it may have been related to official documents for which he was applying, according to the BBC.

She said her ex-partner also called and text her and turned up with friends at her home.   

An EE spokesman said: ‘Protecting our customers’ data and privacy is our top priority, and we have strict policies and procedures in place to keep personal details safe. 

‘This was the action of one employee whose specific intent was to obtain Ms Bonafede’s details illegally. 

‘As soon as she contacted us with concerns we immediately carried out an investigation into what happened and our policies were not followed in this instance.

‘This matter has been dealt with internally and the employee involved no longer works for us. While we worked quickly to protect Ms Bonafede, we have apologised to her for the distress caused, sharing with her the steps we took to investigate to reassure her that we acted immediately and took it extremely seriously.’