Work - Am I being paranoid?

[TinyDancer45]

My work laptop stopped working about 8 weeks ago. Fortunately, I had an ex-colleagues computer in the office so I've been using that instead. I had arranged to drop the old laptop into our IT department but kept on forgetting as I mostly work from home. I've had the broken computer since and thought nothing of it. I now receive a call from IT saying that they need the computer back as they're worried about a potential breach. I asked what had happened but he couldn't really tell me and just said they need to download files from it to send to an investigation company. I'm terrified I've done something criminal (I dont think I have) or I'm in serious trouble and the police have asked for it. What could this be? I don't know if I'm being too anxious.

No idea. Probably just want the damn thing back.

I suspect they are just being cautious as you've had 2 machines at home for so long- they've just taken your word that it's broken, you could have been doing anything with it. I have worked in companies before where people lied about losing/breaking their laptops to try and sell them etc.

8 weeks is a long time to have held onto company equipment. Could you not have couriered it back in that time? If I was the IT dept I'd be a bit suspicious by now as well.

They are being cautious because you haven't returned it for eight weeks. Eight weeks which is a massive amount off time

Seems an odd leap to make if you haven't done anything.

They will always ask for a old device back be it laptop or a phone.

Don't worry - if it's a criminal investigation and they've just tipped you off, giving you a chance to destroy evidence, then they'll be going to prison with you.

Presumably you would know if you've been downloading anything illegal, so I really don't know why you'd think that.

Is it definitely your old one they want, not ex colleagues?

I expect they are fed up of you hanging onto company property. If you haven’t done anything illegal on the laptop then you have nothing to worry about even if they do think there is a breach.

I'd have been in more trouble much sooner than 8-weeks if I didn't return electronic equipment/company property.

I’m confused by your OP do the IT department know you’re using an old laptop? Which one is the old one?

Large global software company:

If you get a replacement laptop you have 14 days to return the previous (they pay for the courier).
After 14 days they actually block all access, but it sounds like your company isn't clever enough to do that.

It's proably triggered an internal process that automatically looks for data breach given the amount of time you've had it.

Prison awaits op....

Kidding

But seriously; return the bloody laptop before you get charged with something.

When my company replaced my laptop two years ago, they arranged a courier collection for the old laptop. Couriers lied about trying to collect (no visits- I have Ring and Video Surveillance cameras!)

My old laptop is STILL here waiting for collection.

And we're a Tech company