Lego marketplace BrickLink offline after 'unusual activity' detected

Lego has temporarily taken down its online marketplace, BrickLink, following the detection of what it termed "unusual activity" on the site. BrickLink serves as a platform for Lego enthusiasts around the globe, allowing them to buy and sell pre-owned Lego sets, acquire new bricks, and purchase exclusive limited edition items.

The marketplace was initially created by a fan of Lego before being acquired by the company in 2019. In a message posted on the homepage, Lego stated that it aims to "fully understand" the situation before bringing BrickLink back online. The company emphasized that this process involves containing the issue, investigating its origins, and checking for any related concerns.

Lego has not disclosed specific details regarding whether the platform experienced a security breach or hacking incident, nor has it confirmed if customer data may have been compromised. After the BBC reached out for more information, Lego provided an update on the situation.

BrickLink has been inaccessible for the past three days, with an earlier announcement indicating that the site was undergoing maintenance. Melanie Hoskin, a seasoned Lego collector with 45 years of experience and a frequent BrickLink user, shared her frustrations with the BBC. She reported having received multiple payment requests for a limited edition item she had already pre-ordered and paid for.

According to Hoskin, Lego initially did not recognize that her payment had been processed and even suggested that she could face a ban from BrickLink. Fortunately, the issue has since been resolved, and Lego stated that it has not identified any broader payment problems affecting users. However, it remains unclear if the payment issue was related to the overall problems that led to the website's shutdown.