T-Mobile's $25,000 data breach payouts begin this month - how to check your eligibility

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

If you're a T-Mobile idiosyncratic (or were successful 2021), a cheque mightiness get successful your mailbox soon.

In 2021, the mobile bearer suffered a monolithic information breach that affected astir 76 cardinal customers (this isn't related to the 2023 breach that affected 37 cardinal people). T-Mobile denied immoderate wrongdoing but agreed to settee a suit astir the breach retired of court. 

Four years later, affected customers are getting compensation. 

Also: I clicked connected 4 sneaky online scams connected intent - to amusement you however they work

A caller update connected the colony website indicates that each tribunal proceedings are done, and checks are expected to spell retired this month. 

If you suffered fiscal nonaccomplishment from the incident, you mightiness person up to $25,000. If you didn't endure immoderate loss, adjacent if you didn't record a assertion successful the suit, you tin person up to $25 (except California residents, who volition person up to $100). While those are the maximum amounts, a speedy crunch of the numbers – a $350 cardinal colony divided betwixt 76 cardinal radical – works retired to astir $4.50 a person, and that's earlier lawyer fees. 

If you were portion of the settlement, you should person received notice. If you're unsure if the breach affected you, the suit leafage has an FAQ section detailing however to find out. You tin besides telephone 1-833-512-2314 for much information.

While nary delicate accusation similar outgo information was accessed successful the 2023 breach, T-Mobile says, the 2021 breach saw names, addresses, societal information numbers, driver's licenses, and ID accusation accessed by unauthorized people. Given the rise successful individuality theft implicit the past respective years, the second is particularly concerning.

Also: The champion VPN services: Expert tested and reviewed

Even if you weren't portion of this breach, monitoring your recognition with an individuality theft extortion service like Aura oregon Norton Lifelock is important. 

Get the morning's apical stories successful your inbox each time with our Tech Today newsletter.