AT&T Is Sending Notice of Data Breach Letters, Offering Only Limited Fraud Protections

Customers impacted by a massive AT&T data breach are only being offered one-year of Experian credit monitoring membership, despite lawsuits alleging AT&T failures exposed Social Security Numbers, other information to the dark web.

Following a significant data breach at AT&T several years ago, which compromised the personal information, Social Security numbers and email addresses of more than 70 million customers, the company is just starting to send notice letters and emails to customers. However, the AT&T data breach letters only offer customers limited identity fraud protections and credit monitoring.

Although hackers gained access to the AT&T data as early as August 2021, and publicly posted customer information on the dark web months ago, the telecom giant has only recently begun sending a Notice of Data Breach letters (PDF) to current and former customers, informing some of those impacted that their information has been compromised.

Within the AT&T Notice of Data Breach letters and emails, customers are being told they only have until the end of August 2024 to use an activation code to create a free Experian credit monitoring membership, which will only last for one year before the individual must take on the expense themselves. However, customers whose personal information was stolen are expressing their concerns across social media platforms, claiming the AT&T credit monitoring offer of only one year is inadequate, and that the potential for damage from such a breach extends well beyond the span of a single year.

As a result, a growing number of are now filing AT&T data breach lawsuits, which seek substantially greater financial compensation for customers, alleging that their information was released due to a massive failure by AT&T to properly and adequately secure customer names, Social Security number and other data.

In this featured post, AboutLawsuit.com provides some samples of the notices customers received from AT&T about the data breach, which outline steps that can be taken to take advantage of the free credit monitoring.

In addition, customers who received the notice can fill learn more about how to sign up for the AT&T data breach lawsuit  here, or fill out the form at the bottom of this post to find out if they may qualify to pursue an AT&T data breach settlement through a class action lawsuit or individual arbitration claim.

AT&T Notice of Data Breach Security Update

AT&T began notifying both current and former customers affected by the data breach through emails sent several weeks ago, and reports suggest that AT&T data breach letters started to be sent around April 25, 2024.

Mass emails have been sent to millions of current AT&T phone and internet customers from ATT@message.att-mail.com, which detailed how their account passcodes had been automatically reset. However, many of those AT&T data breach notice emails were caught in spam filters or did not reach individuals whose personal information was exposed.

The notices encouraged customers to update their passcodes as a precaution by visiting their site and following the series of directions below;

1. Go to your myAT&T Profile. Sign in, if asked. (If you have extra security enabled and can’t sign in, choose Get a new passcode).
2. Scroll to My linked accounts.
3. Select Edit for the passcode you want to update.
4. Follow the prompts to finish up.

AT&T also recommended that the customers take certain steps to remain vigilant by monitoring their account activity and credit reports, and that individuals whose information was confirmed to be stolen would be offered free credit monitoring services for a limited time.

AT&T Data Breach Experian Credit Monitoring Notice

For many customers whose information was confirmed to be stolen and posted on the dark web, additional notices were sent by email and mailed letter, explaining;

• What Happened
• What Information was stolen
• What AT&T is Doing
• What you can do, and
• How to receive free one year credit monitoring

How to Sign Up For Free AT&T Experian Credit Monitoring?

Within the notice of data breach, AT&T indicates that it will provide customers whose information was stolen and posted on the dark web a one year free Experian IdentifyWorks membership to monitor fraudulent activity.

The service includes an insurance policy with coverage up to $1 million. This policy can help cover costs associated with recovering from identity theft. Such costs might include legal fees, lost wages, or other expenses directly related to restoring a stolen identity.

Customers are being instructed that they have until August 30, 2024 to sign up for their Experian IdentifyWorks membership before their activation code expires permanently.

AT&T Data Breach Lawsuits Seek Additional Damages and Credit Monitoring

AT&T’s offer of merely one year of credit monitoring has been widely criticized as insufficient by victims, who argue that the potential for damage extends far beyond this limited timeframe.

Several AT&T data breach lawsuits filed to date outline how the risks associated with data breaches are enduring and can emerge years after the initial incident, and that AT&T customers who have been compromised are entitled to actual damages, extended credit monitoring, and other monetary relief.

The situation is further complicated by AT&T customer experiences reported by some individuals, who have already suffered identity theft and fraud as a direct result of the breach. Many of these victims are seeking legal representation to pursue compensation for their actual damages, which include both out-of-pocket expenses incurred from dealing with the fraud and the broader financial impacts.