**Breaking News: AT&T Data Breach Settlements - Claim Your Payout Before Dec 18**

Have you been affected by one or both of the massive data breaches that rocked AT&T in recent years? If so, you may be entitled to a payout from the company's $177 million settlement. With just a week left to claim your share, we'll walk you through what you need to know and how to file your claim.

The first breach, which occurred between 2019 and 2021, compromised the personal data of a staggering 73 million AT&T customers. The hackers accessed sensitive information including social security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, AT&T account numbers, and passcodes. Not only current but also former users were affected, with the breach likely dating back to 2019 or earlier.

Just as it seemed like AT&T had contained the damage, disaster struck again in July 2024 when hackers downloaded phone records from the company's workspace onto a third-party cloud platform. The breach impacted not just AT&T but also Verizon, Ticketmaster, and approximately 160 other companies.

The court has ordered AT&T to pay $177 million to affected customers as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement. Those who were impacted in the first data breach will be entitled to up to $5,000, while those affected in the second breach can claim up to $2,500. However, if your data was compromised in both breaches, you could receive up to $7,500 combined.

Adrianus Warmenhoven, a security expert on NordVPN's advisory board, expressed concern that the settlement payout is too low, given the severity of the breach. "Social security numbers are significant breaches," he said, "but even a date of birth breach could be a substantial threat." Warmenhoven warned that multiple data breaches can paint a comprehensive picture of an individual, allowing cybercriminals to digitally impersonate them.

"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, borrow some money, rent a car," Warmenhoven explained. "So this data will never, ever go away; it will only get more and more enriched."

Unfortunately, there is no technical fix to protect against these types of breaches, according to Warmenhoven. "It's just bad management," he said, emphasizing the need for companies to separate sensitive data from easily accessible databases.

If you believe your data was compromised in either breach, you should have received an email informing you. To file a claim, visit telecomdatasettlement.com and click on "Submit Claim." You will need your Claim Member ID, which can be found in the email from Kroll Settlement Administration.

Remember that customers who had data leaked in both breaches could receive up to $7,500 combined. To qualify for this payout, you'll need to provide documentation of any financial losses related to the breach, such as receipts, invoices, or bank statements.

If you don't have direct financial losses tied to the breach, you can still qualify for a payout by choosing a Tier Cash Payment. If your social security number was leaked in the first breach, you'll automatically qualify for a Tier 1 Cash Payment, which will be the highest payout. For those who had other pieces of personal data leaked in the first breach, you'll qualify for a Tier 2 Cash Payment.

Don't miss this opportunity to claim your share of the settlement. File your claim online by December 18 or postmark it via mail on or before that date. Remember, the clock is ticking – and so are the scammers who may try to take advantage of you.