Watford Community Housing Trust has denied that recent scam calls to their customers are related to a data breach in 2020.

The housing association had sent out an email in March, 2020, to all tenants to inform them of changes to services during the coronavirus outbreak.

But attached to the email was a spreadsheet that contained personal information of the housing association's 3,545 tenants.

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On Monday, (September 16, 2022) customer Dee Hart reported receiving a scam call from someone claiming to be a contractor hired by Watford Community Housing Trust, asking about outstanding repairs to the home.

Other customers then reported receiving the same call, and some linked the scam to the data breach.

Tracie York-Price said: “It’s because they gave all our info out.

“I believe it is [linked to the data breach] myself as I have never been contacted by the council ever for repairs.

"It’s not really very good.”

Another person, who did not wish to be named, said: “It is still more consequences from the data breach, years down the line.

Watford Observer: Watford Community Housing Trust. Picture: Google Street ViewWatford Community Housing Trust. Picture: Google Street View (Image: Google Street View)“No other housing association has had a data breach and their residents haven’t been contacted by any scam artists.

“It just seems very coincidental that it has happened to those poor residents.”

Another added: “That’s what you get from sending out everyone’s data.”

However, the trust has denied there is any reason to believe recent calls are related to the breach and would not comment on where those responsible might have found specific individuals’ details.

The trust also pointed to the same known scam number having been reported on who-called.co.uk targeting people across the country.

It also highlighted its online scam advice, which says: “Please do not allow anyone into your home until you are sure they are a genuine representative of Watford Community Housing or one of our contractors.

“If you receive a letter, phone call, email or a visitor to your home that you aren’t sure about, you should contact us directly to check if it is from us or one of our contractors.

“If you have any doubts at all, do not reply until we have confirmed that the person contacting you is genuine.”

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