Last week it became known that personal data of customers was stolen at Odido. Shortly thereafter, phishing emails appeared informing recipients that they would be entitled to compensation due to the data breach. To file that claim, they had to go through a link to an apparently official website and pay 50 euros in "administration fees".

It quickly became clear: a fake website was set up that closely resembled an official claims or compensation page of the telecom provider. The timing is no coincidence: cybercriminals increasingly use current news events to make their attacks credible. A data breach is an ideal starting point in this regard. Victims are already uncertain about what has happened to their data.

Through phishing, spoofing, and social engineering, cybercriminals waste no time; they are responding to current events like never before. This approach shows that phishing campaigns are increasingly being built modularly: a news event serves as a trigger, after which a quickly erected infrastructure is supposed to yield financial gain. The nice thing is that the criminals now have even more information than ever and can therefore appear much more specific and authentic. Where is this headed

The data breach as a catalyst

Especially as a customer of Odido or Ben, you cannot have missed this leak. The criminals are using that fact directly, also because they know the chances are increased. This is due to several reasons:

First of all, the anger over the breach. You are angry that your data is gone, want compensation, and attackers know that. With an email about a damage claim, you are more likely to think: 'Good idea!' On top of that comes the confusion from the breach. Many people do not know exactly what to do, and by putting a certain urgency in the emails ('Apply for your compensation NOW'), you mislead people more quickly.

Additionally, the criminals can work more targeted, with stolen information such as names, email addresses, or phone numbers. Personalized phishing ('Dear Mr. Jansen') significantly increases the chances of success.

Here we see a broader trend within cybersecurity: phishing is no longer a generic spam activity, but a context-driven operation. Attackers monitor news, data breach reports, and public statements from organizations and build real-time campaigns around them.

What does this say about the current phishing and cybercrime landscape?

The aftermath of the Odido breach fits into a development where cybercrime is becoming increasingly professional and businesslike.

1. Phishing-as-a-Service

On underground marketplaces, ready-made phishing kits are offered, including templates for well-known brands, hosting, and even customer service for criminals. This means that almost anyone with limited technical knowledge can set up a credible fake website.

But beware - this is also a way to combat phishing to fight. Phishing-as-a-service, or simulated phishing, is also offered as a form of ethical hacking. An awkward name, but helpful if you want to prepare for attacks.

2. Low amounts, high volumes

The requested 50 euros is strategically chosen. The amount is low enough to minimize doubt ('it's only 50 euros'), but with thousands of victims, it generates substantial returns.

3. Rapid iteration

As soon as a fake website is taken offline, a new variant is often ready within hours. This forces organizations and hosting providers to continuously monitor.

4. Blurring lines between news and attack vector

Every major event, from a data breach to an energy crisis or government measure, can be turned into a phishing campaign within hours. Fake news pops up everywhere and is becoming increasingly targeted. This requires IT departments to have a proactive communication strategy as soon as incidents become public.

How do you prevent employees or customers from becoming victims?

For IT professionals and security teams, the key lesson is that incident response does not stop at closing the breach. It is precisely after that that the risk of secondary attacks begins.

1. Proactive communication

Communicate directly and clearly:
 

• What an official damage procedure looks like
• That no administration fees are ever requested for a claim
• Which channels are indeed legitimate

By determining the narrative yourself, you reduce the space for phishing.

2. Technical measures

Take immediate technical measures. A few in a row:
 

• Correctly configure DMARC, DKIM, and SPF to limit email spoofing
• Active monitoring of lookalike domains
• Use threat intelligence to quickly detect new phishing domains
• Web filtering and DNS filtering within corporate networks

These measures do not prevent all attacks, but significantly increase the chances of detection.

3. Security awareness with context

General phishing training is no longer sufficient. Awareness must respond to current events. After a public data breach, it is crucial to explicitly warn employees about fake claims or false compensation emails. A few rules of thumb:
 

• Never pay to file a damage claim
• Carefully check the domain (watch for subtle deviations)
• Do not click directly on links in emails about financial compensation
• Go independently to the official website via a self-typed URL
• Report suspicious messages to the IT department or through the official reporting point

A direct aftermath of the Odido breach

The fake claims surrounding and the aftermath of the Odido breach underscore a broader reality: cyber incidents have a direct aftermath. Once a data breach becomes public, the threat model shifts. Attackers do not take the time to sort everything out and develop a 'strategy', but strike immediately.

For organizations, this means that incident response must be prepared in advance. There must be immediate anticipation of copycat campaigns and monitoring for brand abuse and domain registrations.

The Odido incident shows how quickly cybercriminals respond to social unrest and news events. In a landscape where phishing campaigns are rolled out within hours, speed - in communication, detection, and information - is at least as important as technical mitigation.

The real damage from a data breach is therefore not only in the stolen data but in the chain reaction that follows. Now that all eyes are focused on preventing a similar breach, the aftermath of the Odido breach has long been underway. This calls for a mature, integrated cybersecurity approach.