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Amazon says customers' email addresses were exposed

Customers in Europe and the US were affected.

AMAZON HAS SAID a website glitch accidentally exposed names and email addresses of some of the e-commerce giant’s customers.

Amazon declined to disclose the extent of the software slip-up.

“We have fixed the issue and informed customers who may have been impacted,” an Amazon spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry.

There was no breach of Amazon systems or its website, and passwords were kept safe, according to the company.

As a precaution, messages were sent to customers affected by the website mishap letting them know their names and email addresses may have been disclosed by the Amazon website.

Amazon customers in the US and Europe have reported receiving messages from the company, according to tech news website TechCrunch.

Black Friday 

The disclosure came on the cusp of the year-end holiday shopping season, with retailers online and in real-world shops offering ‘Black Friday’ bargains pegged to the day after the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

Amazon is the “undisputed e-commerce leader” in the US, with a 48% share of online sales here this year expected to equate to some $252 billion (about €221 billion), according to analysts at eMarketer.

The market tracker forecast that total e-commerce sales in the US would jump 16.6% to $123.73 billion (about €109 billion)this holiday season as compared with the same period last year.

© AFP 2018 

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Buckley
    Favourite Ger Buckley
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    Nov 21st 2018, 9:28 PM

    Where do I apply for compensation? Amazon really don’t give a toss about people’s data once sales are good.

    75
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Nov 21st 2018, 9:37 PM

    @Ger Buckley: they do actually.

    29
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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    Nov 21st 2018, 10:00 PM

    @Peter Cavey: really? Have they ever apologised? No. Amazon just want sales simple as.

    21
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    Mute Sharon Brennan
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    Nov 21st 2018, 10:26 PM

    @Peter Cavey: only in case it affects their reputation and hence sales

    5
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    Mute Colin McCarthy
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    Nov 21st 2018, 10:34 PM

    @Ger Buckley: read amazon business model. They have based everything about customers. They will never use your data for anything apart from suggestion something you should buy and that’s normally spot on.

    15
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    Mute Amanda
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    Nov 21st 2018, 11:19 PM

    @Ger Buckley: why does everyone in Ireland expect compensation.

    34
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    Mute Annette Mc
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    Nov 21st 2018, 9:44 PM

    Hello,

    We’re contacting you to let you know that our website inadvertently disclosed your email address due to a technical error. The issue has been fixed. This is not a result of anything you have done, and there is no need for you to change your password or take any other action.

    Sincerely,
    Customer Service

    THIS IS WHAT I RECEIVED – NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY

    52
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    Mute Lukevic101
    Favourite Lukevic101
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    Nov 21st 2018, 9:48 PM

    @Annette Mc: at least you got a notification about it. If that was aib, expect a letter in 3 to 6 months

    77
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Nov 21st 2018, 11:12 PM

    @Annette Mc: hmm yeah when you get to the stage in life that you take the time to be posting on the journal about how offended you are and looking for an apology (in CAPS too ;-)) …… then you should probably go for a walk and ask yourself WTF you are doing with your life……

    54
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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    Nov 22nd 2018, 12:01 AM

    Looking forward to their GDPR fine..oh wait no one has a clue about GDPR

    18
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    Mute Earl of Daventry
    Favourite Earl of Daventry
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    Nov 21st 2018, 10:24 PM

    They’re pretty good though like

    8
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    Mute Craig Lynch
    Favourite Craig Lynch
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    Nov 22nd 2018, 3:16 AM

    Kerblam…hacked..no way

    4
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