Nectar Points Stolen

[LadyGaGasPokerFace]

I’ve just checked my account and I’ve ‘lost’ 7,000 nectar points. They took 500 in Highgate and then 6,000 in Rhyl and another 500. Neither of which myself and dh has been to.
Both dh and I have checked and we still have our cards. There must be some serious loophole in security if someone can nick points from a loyalty card like this.
I’m going to call them tomorrow and have words either them. My brother says his friend had this too. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has lost points like this.

My points have been stolen many times, at this stage I now just use my nectar card to get the cheaper prices in Sainsbury's.

Same here, 13500 points used in Enfield. I'm in Devon. But customer support were good and I had the points reinstated.
As a pp suggested I think that you need log onto the Nectar website, change your password and delete the app from your phone.

This happened to me years ago with Tesco. I think the problem is that many people don't treat them like cash which they are really, and people save up loads for this time of year.

Happened to me this week, spent 500 points then 30 minutes later the whole of my balance was gone both in London which is about 140 miles away from me. About £35 in all.
I rang Nectar and they were really good, closed my card and reinstated my points then said they'd send me a new card out. They must be losing a fortune with this scam, seems to be happening to so many people.

Nearly every customer post on Sainsbury's Facebook page is about this issue. They know there is a problem.

How does it happen though?

That's what I can't work out. I still have my card, had email and mobile linked and nothing to say any attempt to change password or order new card or log into new device. Must have been cloned somehow.

Very similar story here: a couple of test transactions and then 16500 redeemed. Nectar live chat was good, closed the account and transferred stolen points to new account. Hadn't realised there was such a rash of it at the moment. Will transfer to Avios now rather than letting them build up any more.

I don't think you need the Nectar app or physical Nectar card to use it.
Just the barcode, so even a photo of the barcode would work.
But how do they do it?
Maybe they get a list of real Nectar card numbers and, somehow, convert these numbers into barcodes.
Where and how do they get Nectar card details?
I have no idea how many Nectar points we have, I should check. I only use the card to take advantage of better prices in the shop.
Actually this whole thing annoys me: Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons have this where products are cheaper when you can the loyalty card. Other shops too, but can't remember which.
If we do away with the stupid loyalty cards, gave fair prices for all shoppers, then we wouldn't have this problem.
The cynic in me thinks Sainsburys will simply increase prices to cover the double expense of reissuing stolen points.

Me too, 500 in Camden, 2000 in Enfield, never been to either branch. As others have said Nectar very good , have had points reinstated but couldn’t spend them yesterday. Have taken the app off my phone as suggested.

I've had endless problems, like Wolfie couldn't keep this, had to close that, no linked after 20 years, pita.

i think the scammers generate a random sequence of 11 digits, put it into the nectar app to see if it’s an active nectar account, use a free online app to turn the number into a barcode, scan the barcode at the till.

us too today !! We can’t call as call centre not open !
I am in shock !
can’t wait to get on the phone …. I’m fuming
I feel so sorry for the elderly who have saved and had them stolen ! It shocked us enough but bless I feel for them

To bring this back to life, there's now an option in the app to lock spending of points. Hopefully this will stop the thefts, assuming people spot it to activate it.

Happened to me over the weekend 7000 points in Wolverhampton, I am in Essex. Did Chat and new card will be issued. I asked how this could happen as was worried about data security and was told that in some stores you have to put the number in manually so people try that until they find one that works and has point on it - I find this rather far fetched tbh.

The use of 'awesome' and 'apologize' on the chat(bot) irritated me too.

@HomelessAngua, had you locked spending? I hope they haven't managed to bypass that system!

Apparently it is something to do with guessing the Nectar card number correctly (using a computer programme) then using it. I doubt they stand in the shop going through a list of numbers!

This is what the chat stated 'there are some stores where you need to enter your card number manually. So some people enter random numbers and once a card number matches, they use the points in it.' hence my doubts...

I have not used the lock feature as I didn't know about it..

This happened to me some years ago. Points were used in Wales, I lived in London. However Sainsburys were very good and replaced my points on a new card and added some for goodwill.

I think it's more like they've worked out which cards have points on them before they go to the store and then input the known card's details, rather than stand there putting random numbers in til they hit the jackpot (because how suspicious would that be?!).

I think they should've emailed round about the lock feature. I only found it by accident.

We had someone’s Tesco club card statement sent to our house the other day! My address is quite strange (e.g it isn’t something like grove or close) and the postcode only contains the houses on the privately maintained lane. So would if been difficult for someone to make a mistake filling out a form etc.

I wonder if all these loyalty programs are outsourced to the same third party and they are having issues with keeping cards and addresses in sync…

Well I agree with you about the random number input but the chat should be truthful really - the use of 'awesome' when I gave then a correct answer to a securtiy question and spelling apologize was irritating too.

From looking at X, loads of people had points stolen this weekend!

Had loads of points stolen today, I think they may have worked out the patrern used to generate real nectar numbers . They then type in the number at the self service checkout and it tells them how many points are on that account, if they find loads they can come back and spend the rest of them (as they did with mine today in Sainsburys Upper Norwood). I haven't had a physical card for many years just the app, but you don't need the app password if you can just type the number in at the self service checkout.

Another possibility is that some Sainsbury's staff are in on this

They really do need to publicise the locking feature more widely as this should prevent Nectar points theft. I actually had a push notification about it yesterday, but they really need to do a bit more, IMO.