In the morning of May 11, multiple Telegram channels circulated reports that Wildberry databases had been breached, allegedly causing damage estimated at 654.5 million rubles. Shortly after, representatives from marketplaces denied any hacking incidents affecting their systems and dismissed claims about attacks by unnamed actors or otherworldly forces, noting the information as inaccurate and the product of speculation. This account originates from the iXBT portal and its coverage.
The chatter around supposed hacked databases linked to the Mash, Shot, and Baza channels, along with talk of hacker and alien intrusions and untraceable packages, was later labeled as misinformation. According to Wildberries, the platform continued to operate normally, with the company’s press service insisting that the claims were unfounded.
Separately, Wildberries confirmed the existence of a scam scheme tied to product promotions on its site. Investigators identified around 300 sellers who used external services to artificially boost ratings and sales, creating artificial demand and misrepresenting product performance.
The total loss attributed to these intrusions and manipulation amounted to roughly 650 million rubles. Wildberries’ security team explained that the perpetrators used a Telegram bot to offer questionable promotional services to sellers, a tactic aimed at inflating visibility and sales rather than breaking into the core database.
Despite the noise, the company maintained that there had been no breach of its databases. The clarification was reinforced by subsequent statements from Wildberries about the incident and its operational integrity.
Earlier reports from sources such as socialbites.ca noted remarks from Wildberries founder Tatiana Bakalchuk about branding considerations, hinting at a potential rebrand to refresh the company’s public image and market positioning. This strategic angle suggests a broader effort to align the brand with evolving consumer needs and competitive dynamics in the online retail space, independent of the cyber incident claims. (attribution: iXBT portal; Wildberries press service; socialbites.ca)”