AT&T pays $177 million in data breach settlement
AT&T will pay a $177 million class action lawsuit settlement following two alleged data breaches that exposed sensitive customer data on the dark web.
Unbranded – Newsworthy
The deadline to claim the $177 million AT&T class action settlement is approaching.
AT&T has agreed to a settlement to resolve lawsuits alleging it failed to protect customer information and led to two separate data breaches last year.
In the first incident on March 30, 2024, AT&T announced that customer information, including addresses, Social Security numbers, and passcodes, was published on the dark web, according to the settlement website.
In the second incident, on July 12, 2024, AT&T announced that customer call and text records were illegally downloaded.
In an earlier statement to USA TODAY, AT&T said it is “committed to protecting our customers’ data and ensuring their continued trust in us.”
“While we deny the allegations in the lawsuit that we are responsible for these criminal acts, we have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of prolonged litigation,” the statement said.
Here’s what you need to know about settlements.
When is the deadline to file a claim?
The deadline to submit claims is Thursday, December 18th. Online forms must be submitted by that date. Requests sent by mail must be postmarked.
This deadline has been updated from the original November 18 deadline.
How to file a claim in the AT&T settlement
AT&T customers eligible for the settlement can submit claims online at www.telecomdatasettlement.com.
Claims may also be mailed to AT&T Data Incident Settlementc/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLCP.O. Box 5324 New York, NY 10150-5324.
Who is eligible to file a claim in AT&T’s data breach settlement?
There are two settlement classes, or groups of eligible customers, who can file claims.
- The first class is AT&T customers affected by the March 30, 2024 data breach.
- The second class is AT&T customers affected by the July 12, 2024 data breach.
- Some customers may be eligible for membership in both classes.
The breach is believed to have affected more than 7 million people who had AT&T accounts in 2024 and more than 65 million people who had AT&T accounts between 2019 and 2024, according to the complaint and AT&T’s 2024 statement.
Customers who are unsure whether their payment is included should call 833-890-4930.
How much money will eligible AT&T customers receive?
Eligible claimants can receive up to several thousand dollars, depending on which settlement class they belong to. Customers affected by both data breaches could receive up to $7,500, according to the settlement website.
- Customers affected by the March 30, 2024 data breach:
- Up to $5,000 with cash payment option for documented losses. This means you will need to provide documentation of your loss.
- or Tier 1 or Tier 2 cash payments:
- Anyone whose Social Security number was included in the March 30 data breach can file a claim against Tier 1.
- Customers whose data did not include social security numbers in the March 30 breach can apply for Tier 2.
- Tier 1 payouts are 5 times more than Tier 2.
- Customers affected by the July 12, 2024 data breach:
- Up to $2,500 with documented loss cash payment option
- or Tier 3 cash payment:
- Administrative costs and a portion of the settlement after a claim is issued.
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
