LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Following a recent data breach incident involving AT&T, Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing a data breach to alert Michigan consumers to take precautionary measures against potential scammers and identity thieves.
The breach, affecting millions of current and former AT&T customers nationwide, underscores the importance of safeguarding personal information.
AT&T was breached at the end of March.
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AT&T disclosed on March 30th that a significant amount of customer account data surfaced on the dark web, impacting approximately 7.6 million current and over 60 million former account holders.
Even past customers are affected.
The compromised data, believed to originate from 2019 or earlier, includes sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, 4-digit PIN passcodes, full names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and AT&T account numbers.
In response, Nessel is advising all individuals who have ever had an account with AT&T to take immediate precautions. Current customers should promptly change their AT&T login credentials and update similar passwords or security questions across other accounts.
Former customers should also consider taking these measures, given the severity of the breach and the fact that compromised data is reportedly already circulating on the dark web.
Current customers will be notified.
AT&T plans to notify affected customers via email or letter and encourages individuals with inquiries to visit their website for further information. However, Michigan law does not mandate companies to inform the Attorney General’s office of data breaches, making it uncertain how many Michigan consumers are affected. Therefore, former customers with sensitive data linked to old accounts are advised to take proactive steps outlined in the guidance below without waiting for official notification from AT&T.
Michigan’s Department of Attorney General offers an online resource titled “Data Breaches: What to do Next,” that provides valuable information on the potential ramifications of data breaches. Additionally, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission offers consumer guidance on creating robust passwords and securing accounts.
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Nessel reassures affected individuals that resources are available online to assist them, and her consumer protection team stands ready to aid any Michigan resident who may fall victim to identity theft as a result of this breach.
Tips from the attorney general’s office…
To mitigate risks during a data breach, consumers are advised to:
- Remain vigilant against phishing emails.
- Strengthen or change passwords across accounts.
- Avoid retaining unnecessary data or files.
- Implement multifactor authentication on devices and accounts.
- Consider freezing credit to prevent unauthorized activity.
- Regularly monitor credit reports, taking advantage of free weekly reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion via the Annual Credit Report website.
By following these precautions, Michigan consumers can better protect themselves against the fallout of the AT&T data breach and similar incidents in the future.
