Safepay ransomware group lists listgrove.com on its leak site

• Ransomware group: Safepay
• Country: United Kingdom
• Sector: Professional Services
• Announcement date: August 19, 2025

Safepay claims data breach at Listgrove Limited

The threat actor known as Safepay has published an announcement on its dedicated leak site, claiming to have obtained data belonging to the organization listgrove.com. This listing, which serves as a claim of a successful cyberattack, was discovered on August 19, 2025. According to the information provided by the group, the incident is alleged to have occurred on June 30, 2025.

Ransomware groups often use leak sites to pressure victims into paying ransoms. These sites act as public bulletin boards where attackers list the names of organizations they have targeted. Such tactics are designed to increase the visibility of the breach and create reputational pressure on the victimized company. In this instance, the Safepay group has officially added Listgrove Limited to its list of victims.

Details of the alleged incident

The announcement made by the Safepay group provides limited specific details regarding the nature of the breach. While the group has confirmed that they have listed the organization on their platform, they have not provided further specifics regarding the mechanics of the intrusion or the specific circumstances surrounding the event. The timeline provided by the threat actor suggests that the initial compromise or the data exfiltration may have taken place several months prior to the public announcement on the leak site.

Regarding the specific information that has been targeted, the announcement text does not specify the nature of the data allegedly leaked. The listing does not name any specific data types or categories of information that the group claims to possess.

Organization profile

Listgrove Limited is a specialist recruitment and HR consultancy firm based in the United Kingdom. The firm has been established since 1975 and operates within the professional services sector, providing human resources and recruitment expertise.

Risk assessment and industry implications

The Safepay group is known to employ double extortion tactics. In a double extortion scheme, attackers do not merely encrypt an organization's files to disrupt operations; they also steal sensitive data before encryption. The threat actors then threaten to leak this stolen information on public forums or leak sites if the ransom is not paid. This approach significantly increases the pressure on an organization, as the risk shifts from mere operational downtime to the permanent exposure of sensitive information.

Given the nature of Listgrove Limited as a recruitment and HR consultancy, there is a potential risk that sensitive data could be published. Such a leak could potentially expose personal data belonging to both employees and candidates. For organizations handling human resources and recruitment, the exposure of personal identifiable information (PII) is a primary concern. This situation could potentially lead to regulatory consequences under the UK GDPR, which governs the protection of personal data within the United Kingdom.

Beyond regulatory implications, secondary risks may arise for the organization's clients and candidates. These risks include the potential for identity theft or the execution of targeted phishing attacks using the information gathered during the breach. When attackers possess personal details, they can craft highly convincing fraudulent communications to deceive individuals.

The Safepay group, which reportedly emerged in late 2024, does not operate an affiliate program. This indicates a centralized operational structure for the group's activities. For organizations in the professional services and recruitment sectors, maintaining robust data protection measures is essential to mitigate these risks. Common defensive strategies include implementing multi-factor authentication, maintaining offline backups, and conducting regular security awareness training to defend against the social engineering tactics often used to gain initial access.