WARNING - important info for RC model fans

WARNING - important info for RC model fans

Author
Discussion

motormania

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

254 months

Sunday 8th February 2009
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I have been a loyal customer of Demon Products for many years now, they deal in RC model cars. Unfortunately I received an email this weekend which I'm sure many have also who've purchased from them online.

It contains personal details and it is a SCAM. Basically they have broken the golden rule of online trading and allowed criminals to gain access to their database which in turn means my personal details, along with countless others is now in the wrong hands.

Livid is a polite way of saying how pissed off I am with them. I WILL NEVER use them again as no matter how much they try and say they are sorry and that it was an 'old database' and it would never happen again, simply shows no credibility for the data to be taken in the first place.

They say that my credit card details are safe, but I'm taking no chances and have already cancelled all my cards and requested new ones, along with contacting my bank to make sure they are aware of the situation.

The Internet is a great place to do business but when idiots like this treat mine and others personal details this way it makes my blood boil. You don't have to be a large corporate to be attacked by e-criminals, in fact it is the small fish which are easier to catch-out.

So my advice is simple, if you've purchased from these guys recently, keep an eye out in the first instance for any scams coming from them or anything that sounds like them, and I would strongly advice you to refresh cards and change password etc with your banks full knowledge of why you are doing it.

You have been warned from one very angry customer to another furiousfuriousfurious

Big Bad Ben

251 posts

238 months

Friday 20th February 2009
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There's a thread about this on Oople, for those that are interested: http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19065...

Essentially, they say that the credit card details were kept separately (and more securely) from the address data.

Just playing devil's advocate, but if the scammer already had people's CC details, why would they bother emailing them spam? I'd have thought they'd be straight out buying themselves clearasil and girlfriends (or whatever these computer nerds do for jollies).

I've found Demon to be excellent in terms of value and service and I think that, while it's important that people know that this security breach has occurred, it would be a shame for their business to suffer as a result of one hacking their (perhaps old) address database.

Pvapour

8,981 posts

254 months

Friday 20th February 2009
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I remember when this guy started up, based in High Wycombe IIRC, started with Motors for 1/10th & then onto speed controllers, cant remember his name though....

Big Bad Ben

251 posts

238 months

Sunday 22nd February 2009
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Nick Adams, I believe... :-)

Bungleaio

6,337 posts

203 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
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Big Bad Ben said:
Nick Adams, I believe... :-)
I've always had a great service from them, they were quick to act on the hacking that they suffered. I received the email and although it was slightly alarming I wasn't overly concerned, my address is in the phone book anyway if anyone specifically wants my details.

I continue to use Demon.

motormania

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

254 months

Tuesday 24th February 2009
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I wish I could be more forgiving, but I could never trust my details with them again.

Security for web sites handling my personal details is of the up most importance. The agro I've had to endur in changing my card details to be 100% safe my details do not fall into the wrong hands is enough not to use them again.

Once is enough for me...

Sorry frown

TedMaul

2,092 posts

214 months

Tuesday 24th February 2009
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Big Bad Ben said:
Nick Adams, I believe... :-)
I bought a 19x4 from him for my Optima in the mid eighties and it went like stink. He used to sound half asleep on the phone, but the products were great. I still have demon stickers on my toolbox and their saddle lipos look pretty decent value too.

hman

7,487 posts

195 months

Tuesday 24th February 2009
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I've still got a 2 x 15 in a tamiya boomerang somewhere!

Pvapour

8,981 posts

254 months

Tuesday 24th February 2009
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hman said:
I've still got a 2 x 15 in a tamiya boomerang somewhere!
bloody torquey those doubles, especialy a 15, quads where good revy motors for fast tracks from memory, less drain on the battery too, a guy called Daryl @ Lesro models wound a bespoke 1 x 9 hehe it was like putting a straight short across the whole electric system, the torque was hilarious 4wd pulling wheelies eek batteries lasted about 1.30 biggrin

restoman

938 posts

209 months

Thursday 5th March 2009
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Quite frankly OP, if you are this paranoid about security then I don't think on-line shopping is for you.

motormania

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

254 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
restoman said:
Quite frankly OP, if you are this paranoid about security then I don't think on-line shopping is for you.
Far from it. It's the principle.

I never shop at Tesco's anymore after they treated me so poorly with regards to returning an item that was damaged.

I've recently stopped shopping at Curry's after they screwed up a delivery to my home.

Especially in today's current climate, retailers need to bend over backwards to ensure that their customers are happy. If a retailer pisses me off, they never see my custom again. I get fed up with people who complain about this and that and do nothing. Despite so many saying they hate Tesco's dominance, a large number still shop with them.

So to go back to your comment, I'm not paranoid, just pissed off, and to that end Nick will never get my custom again.

Andyuk911

1,979 posts

210 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
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I am sorry to read this .. I know Nick and he is a good guy ..

dom9

8,090 posts

210 months

Tuesday 17th March 2009
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I bought motors (own product) and speed controls (someone elses) from Nick about 17 years ago, I guess, when he was in Aldershot... Glad to see they are still going, even if they have some security issues.

If I stopped shopping/ eating/ buying from absolutely everywhere that treats me badly, rubs me up the wrong way, stresses me out etc etc etc I would have starved a long time ago... One accident should not put you off forever, everyone deserves a second chance and all that!

telecat

8,528 posts

242 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
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motormania said:
restoman said:
Quite frankly OP, if you are this paranoid about security then I don't think on-line shopping is for you.
Far from it. It's the principle.

I never shop at Tesco's anymore after they treated me so poorly with regards to returning an item that was damaged.

I've recently stopped shopping at Curry's after they screwed up a delivery to my home.

Especially in today's current climate, retailers need to bend over backwards to ensure that their customers are happy. If a retailer pisses me off, they never see my custom again. I get fed up with people who complain about this and that and do nothing. Despite so many saying they hate Tesco's dominance, a large number still shop with them.

So to go back to your comment, I'm not paranoid, just pissed off, and to that end Nick will never get my custom again.
Motormania today!!!


motormania

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

254 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
telecat said:
motormania said:
restoman said:
Quite frankly OP, if you are this paranoid about security then I don't think on-line shopping is for you.
Far from it. It's the principle.

I never shop at Tesco's anymore after they treated me so poorly with regards to returning an item that was damaged.

I've recently stopped shopping at Curry's after they screwed up a delivery to my home.

Especially in today's current climate, retailers need to bend over backwards to ensure that their customers are happy. If a retailer pisses me off, they never see my custom again. I get fed up with people who complain about this and that and do nothing. Despite so many saying they hate Tesco's dominance, a large number still shop with them.

So to go back to your comment, I'm not paranoid, just pissed off, and to that end Nick will never get my custom again.
Motormania today!!!

biggrinlaughrofl

dpbird90

5,535 posts

191 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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The amount of stuff I've had off Demon in the last 12 months, I would expect to receive one of these emails, but I haven't. Anyway, if Demon need to know anything else I usually get a phone call, 99% of genuine retailers never ask for personal info via email.

Evo

3,462 posts

255 months

Saturday 4th April 2009
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I've raced on a semi professional level for the past few years and always always used Nick for motors, cells and many other items. He is a first rate guy who always gos out of his way to help anyone. Shame about what happened but this is no reflection on the man himself, i only ever have given him card details over the phone...

motormania

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

254 months

Monday 6th April 2009
quotequote all
Evo said:
i only ever have given him card details over the phone...
Slightly off topic now (not aimed at Nick)...

It always makes me laugh when I read/hear people say this about buying online - Oh I always use a phone to hand over my details...

It is simple and very easy to tap into phone lines as they are not encrpyted. At least when sending details over the Internet it is secure, and where do the shop owners store this info they take over a phone - normally on a database or spreadsheet - and how secure are these?

That's the real issue here!

This is a big issue (not focussing on Nick now) across the net as a whole, and it's just been made even worse now by the UK government forcing (by EU law) all ISP's to store all electronic communication that takes place on the Internet here in the UK. I hope you were all aware that from today, every email, every 'twitter' update, every blog post, is going to be tracked and stored for use by the UK Government and we all know how good their security policies are!!!!!!

Edited by motormania on Monday 6th April 13:50

Evo

3,462 posts

255 months

Monday 6th April 2009
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Makes you think twice

rich1231

17,331 posts

261 months

Monday 13th April 2009
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motormania said:
Evo said:
i only ever have given him card details over the phone...
Slightly off topic now (not aimed at Nick)...

It always makes me laugh when I read/hear people say this about buying online - Oh I always use a phone to hand over my details...

It is simple and very easy to tap into phone lines as they are not encrpyted. At least when sending details over the Internet it is secure, and where do the shop owners store this info they take over a phone - normally on a database or spreadsheet - and how secure are these?

That's the real issue here!

This is a big issue (not focussing on Nick now) across the net as a whole, and it's just been made even worse now by the UK government forcing (by EU law) all ISP's to store all electronic communication that takes place on the Internet here in the UK. I hope you were all aware that from today, every email, every 'twitter' update, every blog post, is going to be tracked and stored for use by the UK Government and we all know how good their security policies are!!!!!!

Edited by motormania on Monday 6th April 13:50
Jesus H, stop posting ste.. how many people have had card details compromised because a phone was tapped? Im sure you dont know any, you donut.

Most online retailers nowadays dont store card details, and if they do they should be PCI-DSS compliant to a certain extent based upon their business.

Traditional mail order businesses are prone to the same risks that they have always been to compromise, its nothing new.