Class Action Lawsuit: Experian Data Breach Affects 15 Million T-Mobile Users
Hackers have recently stolen data belonging to as many as 15 million T-Mobile users through Experian’s computer database. The stolen T-Mobile data has already surfaced on the dark web in illicit transactions. In late September T-Mobile revealed a breach of its data processing partner Experian’s network. Data hackers were reported to have stolen a large amount of T-Mobile’s customers’ data. T-Mobile had sent the private information to Experian for credit checks to be performed for people seeking financing through T-Mobile for phones or cellular plans. If you or anyone you know has received a letter from T-Mobile or Experian or applied for a cell phone through T-Mobile in the last two years, you may be part of a class action lawsuit. Please contact us using the form on this page or call us at 424-245-5505.
Background on Experian’s Data Breach
T-Mobile and Experian first reported the data breach at the end of September, 2015. The companies reported that the stolen data included victims’ names, addresses, and birthdates, as well as their social security numbers, drivers’ license ID numbers, and passport ID numbers. The social security, drivers’ license and passport data is alleged to have had extra encryption on it, but T-Mobile and Experian have admitted that this data’s encryption may have been cracked by the hackers. The hacked data was from customer financing applications that T-Mobile processed between Sept. 1, 2013, and Sept. 16, 2015. The companies have also said that some T-Mobile internal financial processing data may have been hacked along with the rest of the information taken.
T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, is the third largest U.S. carrier and one of the largest wireless providers in the world. The CEO of T-Mobile’s parent company said in January, 2015, that the company cannot continue on its current path, calling it unsustainable.
Cyber Attacks
Cyber-attacks mostly involve the misuse of computer networks and systems by unauthorized, outside parties. Cybercrimes like identity theft are the usual goal of hackers who use malicious code to change computer data or code. Few companies appear to be completely safe from cyber-attacks which are becoming more and more common as technology progresses. Efforts to prevent the attacks can only go so far, and if you’ve already suffered loss as a result of a cyber-attack, then legal action is the best option to put you back where you belong.
Data Breach
Many state laws require businesses who suspect data breaches to inform their customers of the breach immediately. This disclosure must be made in writing, as fast as possible, and without delay. There may be people who question T-Mobile’s timing in alerting its customers of the hacker’s attack on Experian. Additionally, if the business was the source of the data breach, the business may have to offer to make the customer whole, such as out of pocket expenses and invasion of privacy damages. Experian would seem to be in a great position to offer credit monitoring to T-Mobile’s affected customers but such an offer has yet to be reported.
T-Mobile/Experian Class Action
It is reported that T-Mobile became aware of the hack on or around September 30, 2015 and notified their customers of the hack on October 1st, 2015. If you or anyone you know has provided information to T-Mobile, specifically between the first day of September 2013 and now, you may be part of a class action lawsuit. Please contact us using the form on this page or call us at 424-245-5505.
