Latest news with #AustraliaPost
ABC News
2 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Mercer Super reports security breach after Australia Post Melbourne GPO mail theft
A superannuation fund does not know how many members have been affected after mail was stolen from Australia Post in Melbourne's CBD. In an email sent on Wednesday, Mercer Super, which also operates Virgin Money Super, said the breach affected members who posted mail to its Melbourne GPO post box between July 1 and 17. Mercer Super said it did not know the exact number of members who had been impacted by the theft, but said customers who sent mail during that period should get in contact. The superannuation fund has more than 1 million members, according to its website. "If no information was posted to us in July, there's no need to take any action," it said in an email to members. It told customers to be alert for suspicious emails, calls or messages, and to not share personal or financial information unless certain of the source. The fund does not believe the incident has impacted members' accounts so far. "Currently there is no indication that any member's personal information has been published externally or sold as a result of this incident," the Mercer Super website said. The fund also said it had enhanced its security processes to further protect members, and has contacted the Australian Information Commissioner and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). The offenders allegedly broke into the mezzanine area of the Melbourne GPO Box Room four times between July 6 and 17, an Australia Post spokesperson said. "The offenders were able to force entry into a back-of-house area used for sorting mail and distributing letters into PO Boxes on three occasions, and on the fourth, left immediately when deterred by additional security measures," the spokesperson said. "The offenders caused significant damage on entry into the facility, which was promptly repaired, and additional security measures were put in place after each break-in." The spokesperson said letters were not tracked, unlike parcels, and Australia Post has been unable to identify individual mail or boxes targeted by the offenders. Australia Post said it had increased security at Bourke St, including after-hours security in the Post Office Box Room. "Plans are well underway for this facility to move to a new, nearby custom-designed facility next month," the spokesperson said. No arrests have been made and Victoria Police says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Major super fund issues alert to customers after mail stolen from Australia Post Melbourne GPO in string of break-ins
An Australia Post office in Melbourne has been targeted by thieves, sparking an alert from a prominent superannuation fund. Australia Post has confirmed its Melbourne GPO Box Room on Bourke Street was subject to a string of break-ins last month, which resulted in customer mail being taken. The mail was stolen from Post Office Boxes within the mezzanine area of the GPO between the dates of July 6 and 17. Mercer Super Australia, which has more than one million members, has now warned customers that letters could have been nicked containing personal or financial information. In a statement on Wednesday, Australia Post said the offenders were able to "force entry into a back-of-house area used for sorting mail and distributing letters into PO Boxes" three times. However, on the fourth occasion, the offenders immediately fled the Melbourne GPO "when deterred by additional security measures". "The offenders caused significant damage on entry into the facility, which was promptly repaired, and additional security measures were put in place after each break in," Australia Post said. Australia Post, which has more than 4,000 post offices nationally, confirmed it has contacted customers who have been potentially impacted by the theft, apologising for any inconvenience. However, since letters are not tracked, Australia Post said it is not able to identify the individual mail items or boxes targeted by the thieves. "Registered mail items are handled in a separate area of the Melbourne GPO Box Room facility that was not affected in the break ins," Australia Post said. Mercer Super Australia alerted its members of the security breach via a published notice on its website on Wednesday. "Australia Post experienced a security breach at the Melbourne GPO potentially impacting a large number of GPO box owners, including Mercer Super and Virgin Money Super," it read. "It's possible that letters containing members' personal or financial information were stolen." In a detailed FAQ section on its website, Mercer Super confirmed it has reported the incident to the Australian Information Commissioner, and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. While it is not clear how many customers have been impacted, Mercer Super confirmed the "potential impact is limited" to members who posted mail to its Melbourne GPO box in July and have "not received an acknowledgement" from the company. "As the breach occurred at Australia Post's Melbourne GPO, we were unaware of the issue until recently," the superannuation fund said. "Once we became aware we issued communications to members as quickly as possible." The Aussie super fund said it has "enhanced its security process to further protect" its members in the wake of the incident. "At this point we believe that this incident has not impacted members' accounts," it said. "Currently there is no indication that any member's personal information has been published externally or sold as a result of this incident." Members have been asked to remain vigilant to suspicious emails, calls or messages claiming to be Mercer Super or Virgin Money Super. Australia Post said it is supporting a police probe into the break-ins, and has implemented an "after-hours security presence in the PO Box Room". "Plans are well underway for this facility to move to a new, nearby custom-designed facility next month," it said. In a statement, Victoria Police confirmed it is investigating a "series of burglaries at a business on Bourke Street in Melbourne" between July 7 and 17. "No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation is ongoing," police said. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
Customers' mail stolen in a series of break-ins at Australia Post's Melbourne GPO
Concerns have been raised after Australia Post's Melbourne GPO box room was broken into several times, with one major company warning their clients confidential information may be in the hands of criminals. Mercer Superannuation has issued a warning to its 1.6 million customers to be aware of the break-ins. 'We do not know the exact number of members that may have been impacted,' Mercer said on its website. 'We can confirm that the potential impact is limited to members who sent mail via post to our Melbourne GPO box in July and have not received an acknowledgment from us.' The break-ins occurred between July 6 and 17 from the post office boxes in the Melbourne GPO in Bourke St, Melbourne. On three separate occasions, thieves forcibly gained access to a back-of-house area used for sorting mail however during a fourth attempt, were deterred after increased security measures were introduced. The offenders left the premises immediately. Australia Post reported each break-in resulted in significant damage to the facility, which has now been repaired. But authorities have been unable to confirm what was taken. Australia Post say they have notified potentially affected customers of the unauthorised access to their PO Boxes but that since unlike parcels, letters are not tracked, they are unable to determine which specific mail items or PO Boxes may have been targeted. Customers wishing to check the status of tracked items are being urged to use the tracking feature on the Australia Post website or the AusPost App to ensure the status of their mail. In a statement Australia Post apologised to customers for the disruption caused by the incidents and said they have implemented 'a number of additional security measures, including after-hours security presence in the PO Box Room'.
Sydney Morning Herald
14 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Burglaries at Australia Post's Melbourne GPO boxes spark superannuation security alert
A super fund has alerted its 1.1 million members that their personal or financial information could be in the hands of criminals after thieves stole mail from Australia Post's Melbourne GPO boxes on Bourke Street. Australia Post has confirmed it is 'aware of unauthorised access and theft of some mail articles' on four occasions between July 6 and 17, and Victoria Police has confirmed it is investigating. 'It's believed the offender or offenders have entered the building on four occasions, stealing items from inside. No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation is ongoing,' officers said in a statement on Wednesday. An Australia Post spokesperson said thieves had broken into a mail sorting area in the rear of the post office. 'The offenders were able to force entry into a back-of-house area used for sorting mail and distributing letters into PO Boxes on three occasions, and on the fourth, left immediately when deterred by additional security measures,' a spokesperson said. 'The offenders caused significant damage on entry into the facility, which was promptly repaired, and additional security measures were put in place after each break in.' The spokesperson said Australia Post had advised potentially affected customers of the unlawful access to their Post Office Boxes, and apologised for 'the inconvenience caused by these criminal acts'. 'Unlike parcels, letters are not tracked, and Australia Post is unable to identify individual mail items or boxes targeted by the offenders.'
The Age
14 hours ago
- The Age
Burglaries at Australia Post's Melbourne GPO boxes spark superannuation security alert
A super fund has alerted its 1.1 million members that their personal or financial information could be in the hands of criminals after thieves stole mail from Australia Post's Melbourne GPO boxes on Bourke Street. Australia Post has confirmed it is 'aware of unauthorised access and theft of some mail articles' on four occasions between July 6 and 17, and Victoria Police has confirmed it is investigating. 'It's believed the offender or offenders have entered the building on four occasions, stealing items from inside. No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation is ongoing,' officers said in a statement on Wednesday. An Australia Post spokesperson said thieves had broken into a mail sorting area in the rear of the post office. 'The offenders were able to force entry into a back-of-house area used for sorting mail and distributing letters into PO Boxes on three occasions, and on the fourth, left immediately when deterred by additional security measures,' a spokesperson said. 'The offenders caused significant damage on entry into the facility, which was promptly repaired, and additional security measures were put in place after each break in.' The spokesperson said Australia Post had advised potentially affected customers of the unlawful access to their Post Office Boxes, and apologised for 'the inconvenience caused by these criminal acts'. 'Unlike parcels, letters are not tracked, and Australia Post is unable to identify individual mail items or boxes targeted by the offenders.'
