Havant, United Kingdom – Havant Borough Community Lottery, managed by Gatherwell Limited on behalf of Havant Borough Council, has reported a data security incident affecting supporters who pay by direct debit. This breach, identified on Friday, 1st December, is linked to a cyber attack on London & Zurich (L&Z), a third-party organization handling direct debit collections for the lottery.

The data breach impacted customers who had signed up for direct debit services on or before 8th November 2023. Gatherwell Limited has confirmed that their lottery system was not directly affected by the cyber attack, indicating that the breach was confined to the systems of London & Zurich.

Customers of the Havant Borough Community Lottery who do not use direct debit for their lottery entries are not affected by this breach. However, those who currently use or have previously used the direct debit payment method are being advised to seek more information and take necessary precautions.

Gatherwell Limited and Havant Borough Council are actively working to understand the full extent of the breach and its implications for affected customers. They are in communication with London & Zurich to ensure that appropriate measures are being taken to secure customer data and prevent future breaches.

In response to the incident, Havant Borough Community Lottery has provided a link for affected customers to follow for more information. This link offers guidance on the steps to take following the data breach, including monitoring bank accounts for unusual activity and being vigilant against potential phishing attempts.

This data security incident serves as a reminder of the potential vulnerabilities in third-party payment systems and the importance of robust cyber security measures. Gatherwell Limited and Havant Borough Council are committed to ensuring the privacy and security of their customers’ information and are taking this incident very seriously.