Investigation launched into email breach at N.L. fuel company North Atlantic

A truck leaves the oil refinery in Come By Chance, N.L. on Tuesday, Oct.6, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS Paul Daly)

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -

A fuel company in Newfoundland and Labrador is investigating after an employee's email account was breached and information was downloaded from the account.

A release from NARL Marketing, which operates the North Atlantic outlets across the province, says someone breached the account on April 13 between 8:06 a.m. and 12:18 p.m., and it was "contained in a timely manner."

The company says it remains unclear what information was downloaded, but the account contained personal information that includes names and contact information, banking, and financial information of some of the firm's customers and business associates.

It is encouraging customers and business associates to monitor their accounts and notify their financial institutions if they notice any suspicious activity.

North Atlantic says it has notified customers who have received emails from the unauthorized user, and it will continue to notify people whose personal information was compromised.

The company also says it has engaged cybersecurity experts to investigate and and advise what further steps may be taken.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2022.