Origin Energy data breach linked to former Accenture worker in Manila call centre

A cyber intrusion that compromised the personal information of roughly 900,000 current and former Origin Energy customers has been traced to a Manila call centre operated by Accenture. A former Accenture employee is alleged to have tried to demand payment in exchange for restoring the data, according to a report. Origin first learned of a possible breach in early July but initially dismissed it as unlikely, later confirming the incident after a media outlet received a sample of 50 customer records.

Accenture confirmed the link but offered no comment, while Origin said the matter remains under criminal investigation. The Australian Federal Police are collaborating with Origin and other partners to collect evidence and halt any further illicit activity. This follows a series of high-profile Australian data breaches, including those at Qantas, Optus and Medibank.