Even Prime Ministers Are Not Immune to Data Leaks

According to French media reports, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s mobile phone number has appeared online following the 2024 data breach at underwear retailer Le Slip Français.

It is a stark reminder that a data breach does not stop being a problem once it fades from the news. Stolen information can remain online for years, being copied and resold, and later be used in new scams.

Key takeaways

• French media reports link the exposure of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s phone number to the 2024 Le Slip Français breach
• Personal data stolen years ago can still be copied, shared and misused
• Names, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses can help scammers create more convincing phishing and impersonation attempts
• Digital Identity Protection can alert you when your information appears in known breaches, while mobile Scam Protection and Call Blocking can help protect you from suspicious messages and calls

Lecornu’s phone number is now circulating online, according to media reports. This case is a highly public example of a risk that can affect anyone whose personal information was exposed in a breach.

A quick reminder: what happened in 2024?

In April 2024, Le Slip Français disclosed that it had suffered a cyberattack. The incident reportedly exposed customer information including names, email addresses, postal addresses and phone numbers.

At the time, the company said customer passwords and payment-card data were not affected. But as this latest report shows, contact details can still create problems long after a breach is disclosed.

Read our original coverage: Data breach at famous French underwear company exposes personal data of 1.5 million shoppers.

It is not an isolated case

According to Le Canard enchaîné, personal data belonging to 25 of the government’s 36 members may be accessible online. Not all the reported exposures are connected to the Le Slip Français breach.

However, the underlying problem is the same: once personal data has been stolen, it can be reused in unexpected ways.

Why old breach data can still cause problems

Attackers can copy a stolen database many times and combine it with information from other breaches or public sources. Even when passwords and payment-card details are not involved, a name, phone number, email address and home address can help a scammer make an approach feel legitimate.

Someone who knows those details may send a convincing message posing as a bank, mobile provider, delivery company or another business you use. Their goal may be to steal a password, obtain a verification code or persuade you to click a malicious link.

What you can do

If your information was exposed in a breach, use unique passwords for important accounts and enable two-factor authentication. Be especially cautious with unexpected calls, texts and emails (even when they include accurate details about you).

Do not use the phone number or link included in an unsolicited message. Instead, contact the company through its official app, website or published customer-service number.

Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection can help you find out whether your personal information has appeared in known data breaches, including older exposures that may still put you at risk. If a breach leads to suspicious calls, texts or links, Bitdefender Mobile Security’s Scam Protection and Call Blocking features can add another layer of protection.