T-Mobile Pays Over $4,000 in $350M Data Breach Settlement to Millions

T-Mobile has begun distributing settlement payments following its massive 2021 data breach that exposed personal information of over 76 million individuals. The $350 million settlement offers payouts ranging from about $56 to over $4,000, with larger amounts awarded to customers who provided documentation of verifiable financial harm such as identity theft and legal fees. While the majority of claimants receive modest sums, some have reported receiving checks exceeding $4,000, reflecting the significant impact of the breach on certain individuals. The payout process has been delayed by administrative and legal complexities, with careful claims verification aligning with new federal telecommunications security regulations. Meanwhile, AT&T faces a separate $177 million settlement for two data breaches in 2019 and 2024 affecting millions of customers, prioritizing larger payments for those with damages directly linked to the incidents. Both cases highlight ongoing industry challenges in safeguarding consumer data and the costly consequences of security lapses.