Noel Leeming investigating 'bogus' emails

Electronic appliance retailer Noel Leeming is investigating a claim that its client database has been hacked and bogus emails sent to customers. Photo/file

UPDATE: Noel Leeming investigations confirm two unauthorised emails were sent to people in Tauranga.

Company spokeswoman Sarah Rogan said customers should delete any email from nlta44@noelleeming.co.nz.

The emails had the subject line 'TV Warranty' or the number 125941996 or a similar number, she said.

Noel Leeming apologised for the inconvenience and urged people to call 0800 444488 for further help or information.

Earlier: Unauthorised emails have been sent from Noel Leeming's Tauranga store email account, it has been revealed.

The announcement of the unauthorised emails followed a claim that the electronic appliance retailer's client database had been hacked and bogus emails sent to customers.

''We advise our customers not to open any emails from Noel Leeming Tauranga in the interim,'' company spokeswoman Sarah Rogan said today.

''We understand there have been unauthorised emails sent from Noel Leeming's Tauranga store email account today. Noel Leeming takes customer data very seriously and we are investigating the matter,'' she said.

The appropriate authorities had been informed of the issue, she said.

The problem unfolded today, with the Bay of Plenty Times alerted to the issue by a Tauranga client of the store who claimed that the database had been hacked.

The man, who asked not to be named, received a ''convincing'' email on Tauranga branch letterhead, but said it was totally bogus.

He noticed the email when he turned on his computer at 12.17pm today. He did not open the email and so could only speculate about whether it was a blackmail scam, a scam to get credit card details, or a way to introduce a virus.