Greetings! If you've recently purchased something from
Toys "R" Us Canada, you might want to take notice. The retailer just announced that a hacker stole customer information after a data breach. Your payment information is likely safe, but names, emails, and phone numbers may be out in the wild. Let's get into the story of what happened and what actions you can take to protect yourself.
What Happened?
How It Started
On
July 30, 2025,
Toys "R" Us Canada learned that a seller on the dark web claimed to have its customers' data. The brand brought in an external team of cybersecurity professionals to investigate, and unfortunately, there was truth to the claims.
What Was Leaked
The full scope of the leaked information will take time to fully understand; however, hackers took:
- Full names
- Addresses
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
The good news: No passwords or credit card information was part of the data breach; therefore, hackers will not be able to log in to your account or charge your credit card directly, but your personal information is still on the loose.
Why This Matters For Customers
Even if no payment data was exposed your name, email, and phone number could be interfaces to scams. Have you ever gotten an email and said to yourself "Whoa! Is this real?" Hackers with your information can send phishing emails from
Toys "R" Us or any name they wanted.
If hackers send you an unsolicited email that says
"Click here to verify your account" — just think about it. For the Company
Toys "R" Us Canada posted in an online statement that they improved security and notified
Canadian privacy regulators. However, nothing fully goes away from the internet once exposed. The best the company can do is limit harm going forward.
What You Need to Do
If you had an account or made a purchase from Toys “R” Us Canada, you may need to consider these actions:
1. Be on the lookout for fake emails or texts that appears to be from
Toys “R” Us.
2. Don’t click any links or download any attachments that you weren’t expecting.
3. Use strong, unique passwords for each online account.
4. Turn on two-step verification (or multi-step authentication) where possible — it is an extra layer of protection.
5. Monitor your email inbox for any strange activity.
My Perspective
Let’s be honest; this happens all the time. These things can happen even to large brands like
Toys “R” Us, which highlights how difficult it can be to secure data one hundred percent online.
At least the company acted promptly and has said that passwords or credit card information have not been compromised. However, it is still unsettling to think that someone has your contact information. I would use this reference as a baby-like, gentle nudge; be cautious, double-check your emails, and reset any old passwords if necessary.
Conclusion
So, here it is a quick summary:
•
Toys “R” Us Canada suffered a data breach.
• Names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses possibly leaked.
• Passwords and credit cards were not compromised.
• Customers should remain vigilant and take a few basic security measures.
Another reminder that online safety is all of our responsibility — even when it isn't our fault.