A large number of Americans are set to receive a significant settlement from AT&T, following two data breaches that led to the exposure of sensitive customer information.
These breaches resulted in the theft of personal data, including birth dates and social security numbers, from 73 million individuals, which were subsequently found on the dark web.
As a result of a class action lawsuit stemming from incidents in March and July of last year, AT&T, a company with a market cap of $180 billion, has consented to a $177 million settlement, while denying any wrongdoing.
The company stated, “While we deny the allegations in these lawsuits that we were responsible for these criminal acts, we have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation.”
Customers need to act quickly to claim their share of the settlement.
AT&T previously stated that the main breach took place in March: “After analysis by our internal teams as well as external data consultants, we are confident this is repackaged data previously released on the dark web in March 2024.”
They further noted, “Affected customers were notified at that time. We have notified law enforcement of this latest development.”
The settlement is available to two groups of current and former AT&T customers.
The first group includes individuals affected by the March 30, 2024, data breach, which led to the exposure of social security information and other sensitive data online.
The second group consists of those impacted by the July 12, 2024, breach, which involved the unauthorized download of customer call and chat data from AT&T servers.
These breaches impacted over seven million AT&T account holders in 2024, with an additional 65 million accounts from 2019 to 2024 also affected.
If you’re unsure of your eligibility, you can call (833) 890-4930 or look for an email from the Kroll Settlement Administration, sent from ‘[email protected]’.
Ensure you check your spam folder as well, so you don’t miss any communication.
Customers impacted by the breach can choose to apply online or via mail.
To apply online, visit telecomdatasettlement.com.
Alternatively, mail your application to: AT&T Data Incident Settlement c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.
Any affected individual, regardless of whether they were impacted by one or both breaches, is urged to file a claim.
The compensation amount varies based on the breach or breaches you were affected by. Those impacted by both incidents may receive a maximum payment of $7,500.
Individuals affected by the March breach, where social security information was leaked, are eligible for a portion of a $149 million settlement fund.
On the other hand, customers affected by the July breach will be compensated from a $28 million fund. Those affected by both breaches are entitled to claim from both funds.
Individuals who can demonstrate a documented loss due to the first breach may receive up to $5,000, while losses from the second breach are eligible for up to $2,500.
Thus, those affected by both incidents could receive up to $7,500. Those without documented losses will still receive a smaller payment. Further details are available on the settlement’s website.
The initial application deadline of November 18 has been extended to give more people the chance to apply for their settlements, but the new deadline is approaching soon.
AT&T customers who were affected by either of these breaches must submit their application, either by mail or online, by December 18 to receive a potential settlement of up to $7,500.