DC Attorney General Karl Racine released a consumer alert, saying that victims of last year’s T-Mobile data breach should take necessary steps to avoid identity theft.
A large amount of personal information pertaining to T-Mobile users that was stolen in August 2021 was discovered to be for sale on the dark web, according to Racine’s statement issued on Wednesday, March 2.
Dark web is part of the internet, but requires specific software to access and is particularly popular among cyber criminals who seek to sell hacked information.
T-Mobile announced on August 17, 2021, a massive data breach it suffered, saying that the sensitive personal data of millions of current, former, and prospective customers were compromised.
“The breach impacted more than 53 million individuals, including 243,680 District residents,” said the statement from Racine. “Among other categories of impacted information, millions had their names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and driver’s license information compromised.”
Residents impacted by the cyber attack should place a fraud alert on their credit report, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said, adding that it would prompt lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify the customer’s identity before issuing credit.
To place a fraud alert, you can contact one of these credit companies:
+1 (888) 766-0008
+1 (888) 397-3742
- TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
+1 (800) 680-7289
You should also visit T-Mobile’s safety and identity theft protection webpage to learn more about common mobile fraud schemes and safety tips.
In addition, you can go to identitytheft.gov for assistance or contact OAG’s Office of Consumer Protection, if you believe you are a victim of identity theft.