AT&T has announced that approximately 73 million of its current and former customers may be entitled to a portion of a $177 million settlement stemming from two significant data breaches. These incidents compromised a vast array of sensitive customer information, including personal details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and records of communication activities.
To qualify for a share of this settlement, affected individuals must submit their claims by December 18, highlighting the importance of timely action for claimants.
Here are some crucial details surrounding this settlement:
What Led to This Settlement?
The breaches date back to 2019 when hackers infiltrated AT&T’s systems, extracting sensitive personal information, including customers’ names, Social Security numbers, and contact details, as per legal documents related to two lawsuits filed against the company.
In 2021, this data was discovered on the dark web, and while AT&T has not disclosed the specific timing of when they identified the breach, the company publicly acknowledged the theft in March 2024, asserting that it impacted 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former customers.
A subsequent announcement in July 2024 detailed a second data breach, wherein hackers accessed call and text log records for a substantial number of customers over a six-month period in 2022. Although the company refrained from disclosing exact figures, AT&T clarified that the stolen data did not include the actual content of communications.
The breaches prompted federal class-action lawsuits filed in Texas and Montana, which collectively reached a settlement earlier this year.
Potential Compensation
The specific amount each claimant may receive remains undetermined and will depend on the total number of claims filed and the extent of individual damages suffered. Claimants may document their losses for potential compensation of up to $7,500.
Examples presented in the lawsuits highlight various financial repercussions from the breaches, including one customer whose identity was exploited to open a credit account with a $12,000 balance and another individual whose credit score dropped significantly after falling victim to fraud linked to the incidents.
Customers who do not submit documented claims will be considered for different compensation pools, with those affected by the theft of Social Security numbers receiving five times more than those whose data was compromised without such loss.
Eligibility for Claims
Given the scale of the breaches, which included data from “nearly all” AT&T cellular and interacting landline customers, current and former customers are likely eligible for compensation. Notifications were sent out to affected individuals via mail or email in 2024, and preserving these communications will facilitate the claims process.
Customers uncertain about their eligibility can inquire by calling the settlement information line at 833-890-4930 or by clicking the “Resend Class Member ID” button available on the settlement website.
Anticipate over 90 minutes of wait time for phone inquiries, making online resources a more efficient option.
Filing a Claim
To file a claim online at the official settlement site, claimants must possess a “class member ID.”
Claims can also be mailed to:
AT&T Data Incident Settlement
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
P.O. Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324
Originally set for November 18, the deadline has now been extended to December 18 by court order.
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