AT&T Customers Could Receive Up to $7,500 in Data Breach Settlement
Telecoms giant AT&T has agreed to a $177 million settlement following two major data breaches in 2024 that exposed the personal information of millions of customers.
The settlement, which combines payouts from both incidents, could see eligible customers receive as much as $7,500 if they can provide documentation of financial losses tied to the leaks.
The first breach, disclosed in March 2024, involved the personal details of around 73 million current and former customers, including Social Security numbers, appearing on the dark web. A second breach announced in July was linked to a third-party cloud platform and compromised the phone numbers of almost all AT&T mobile users and customers of carriers operating on its network between May and October 2022.
As part of the settlement, $149 million has been allocated for the March breach and $28 million for the July incident. Impacted customers will be notified by email through Kroll Settlement Administration, which is overseeing the claims process.
Those affected by the March breach may claim up to $5,000 for verified losses dating from 2019 onward, while victims of the July breach may claim up to $2,500 for damages occurring after April 14, 2024. Customers affected by both breaches may be eligible for up to $7,500, though each loss must be uniquely documented.
Alternatively, customers without proof of financial loss may qualify for smaller tier-based cash payments, with amounts dependent on the number of claims filed and the type of data compromised. However, the settlement site warns that payouts are not guaranteed to be significant, as funds will be distributed across all approved claims.
The deadline for filing claims is November 18, with a final settlement approval hearing scheduled for December 3. Payments will only be issued once the court approves the settlement and any appeals are resolved.
AT&T has denied wrongdoing, saying in a statement that it was not responsible for the “criminal acts” that led to the breaches but agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy litigation. The company added that it “remains committed to protecting customer data and maintaining trust.”
