AT&T Data Breach Victims Have Just Weeks Left to Claim Up to $7,500 Settlement
AT&T users who were affected by two major data breaches are running out of time to claim up to $7,500 in settlements. The breaches, which occurred between 2019 and 2021, compromised the personal data of over 73 million customers, including social security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, AT&T account numbers, and passcodes.
The first breach was confirmed by AT&T in March 2024, when hackers posted the stolen data on the dark web. Shortly after, another breach was discovered, where phone records belonging to nearly all AT&T customers were illegally downloaded from the company's workspace onto a third-party cloud platform. The hack also affected Verizon, Ticketmaster, and roughly 160 other companies.
As part of a class-action lawsuit settlement, AT&T agreed to pay $177 million to affected customers. Those impacted by the first breach are entitled to up to $5,000, while those impacted by the second breach are eligible for up to $2,500. However, time is running out, with claims due to be submitted either online or via mail postmarked by December 18.
Security expert Adrianus Warmenhoven warns that breaches like these can have long-lasting consequences, as criminals accumulate information about individuals gradually through multiple breaches. "With most of the data, if you have a complete profile, I can call credit card companies, get a new account on there, get a lease for something," he said. "So this data will never, ever go away; it will only get more and more enriched."
Warmenhoven attributes the issue to poor management practices, as companies often keep sensitive information in one big database without proper security measures in place. "It's not technically difficult at all to separate those, but we prioritize productivity," he said.
To file a claim, affected customers should visit telecomdatasettlement.com and input their Claim Member ID. Those who had data leaked in both breaches are eligible for up to $7,500 combined, while others can choose from three tiered payment options based on the extent of their financial losses.
AT&T users who were affected by two major data breaches are running out of time to claim up to $7,500 in settlements. The breaches, which occurred between 2019 and 2021, compromised the personal data of over 73 million customers, including social security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, AT&T account numbers, and passcodes.
The first breach was confirmed by AT&T in March 2024, when hackers posted the stolen data on the dark web. Shortly after, another breach was discovered, where phone records belonging to nearly all AT&T customers were illegally downloaded from the company's workspace onto a third-party cloud platform. The hack also affected Verizon, Ticketmaster, and roughly 160 other companies.
As part of a class-action lawsuit settlement, AT&T agreed to pay $177 million to affected customers. Those impacted by the first breach are entitled to up to $5,000, while those impacted by the second breach are eligible for up to $2,500. However, time is running out, with claims due to be submitted either online or via mail postmarked by December 18.
Security expert Adrianus Warmenhoven warns that breaches like these can have long-lasting consequences, as criminals accumulate information about individuals gradually through multiple breaches. "With most of the data, if you have a complete profile, I can call credit card companies, get a new account on there, get a lease for something," he said. "So this data will never, ever go away; it will only get more and more enriched."
Warmenhoven attributes the issue to poor management practices, as companies often keep sensitive information in one big database without proper security measures in place. "It's not technically difficult at all to separate those, but we prioritize productivity," he said.
To file a claim, affected customers should visit telecomdatasettlement.com and input their Claim Member ID. Those who had data leaked in both breaches are eligible for up to $7,500 combined, while others can choose from three tiered payment options based on the extent of their financial losses.
. Think about it, if a big company like AT&T can get hacked and 73 million customers' info gets compromised, what's to stop your own personal data from getting stolen? It's all about being proactive and taking care of yourself in the digital age 
. Don't wait for someone else to take action, take control of your online security now! 
️ those data breaches in 2019-2021 were super bad news with over 73 mil ppl affected & stuff... its not cool that at&t is trying to pay u up to $7k but like u gotta file ur claim ASAP or u'll miss out lol. security expert adrianus says its not just about tech skills but also companies being too focused on productivity 
poor management practices are what led 2 these breaches so lets all hope at&t gets paid and ppl get the help they need 
- okay not really but seriously though these major corporations are just getting away with this?! 
177 million dollars for 73 million people? That's like, a drop in the bucket compared to what they're making each year! 
It's so frustrating that companies are just prioritizing productivity over our personal security 
. And honestly, I'm not sure if the settlements are going to make a real difference - I mean, hackers can still use this info for years to come, as experts say 
.
. The thing is, once you've got someone's data, it's like they're never getting rid of it 
. Can't just erase the trail 
. Anyways, if you were affected by these breaches, make sure to get on that claim before Dec 18th or you'll be outta luck 
.
shouldn't companies be more careful? but I guess it's easy for them to say since they're not the ones getting hacked
. And it's not like the hackers didn't take their sweet time too... posting that data on the dark web in 2024 
. I'm not saying AT&T doesn't have a right to fix their security, but this settlement feels like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound 
. Still, if people want to claim their money, they should go for it 
I've got some inside scoop on this huge AT&T data breach settlement! Like, I know some people might be thinking "okay, fine, I'll claim my $7k" but honestly, it's not that simple 
. Anyway, if u are eligible for the settlement, don't sleep on it! Get ur claim in ASAP 'fore Dec 18th or u'll be missing out 
. Companies gotta take responsibility for their own security practices instead of just shoveling out some settlement cash 
! Like, $177 million is a LOT of cash and it's about time AT&T took responsibility for their security fail 
. On the other hand, I don't think people should be getting that much money just because some hackers messed up... like, come on, you can't put a price on your identity 
. And what's up with the timeline? Dec 18 is like, so soon! Can't they give us more time to figure out how our personal info got compromised 
. On the other hand, I think it's kinda harsh that we're being held accountable while AT&T gets off scot-free... like, can't they just pay up and move on? 
btw what's up with all these breaches lately? like Adrianus Warmenhoven said somethin about poor management practices 
. I mean, i guess if you had data leaked in both breaches, you're good for up to $7.5k, but otherwise it's just a few grand max 
. Poor security measures by the company have led to huge consequences, Adrianus says it's not hard to separate sensitive info, but they just prioritize productivity over safety 
. The fact that criminals can still use this info long after is really concerning 
. And the thing is, even if you do claim your settlement, it's not like the data will magically disappear, it'll still be out there and could be used to scam you later 
. btw, whats the point of separating sensitive info into different db's if hackers just gonna find a way to get to it?