Thousands may now qualify for a surprising sum from a recently approved agreement.

The opportunity is tied to customers who have once signed up for a specific prepaid phone plan.

Payouts may reach an amount some only dream of—but only if action is taken quickly.

This window is set to close, prompting renewed urgency.

Let’s rewind to December 2021. TracFone, the company behind Walmart Family Mobile, suffered a data breach.

That means some customers’ personal information—think names, phone numbers, maybe even more sensitive details—was exposed to cybercriminals. Not exactly the holiday surprise anyone wanted.

A group of affected customers banded together and filed a class-action lawsuit, arguing that TracFone could have prevented the breach with better cybersecurity.

While TracFone hasn’t admitted to any wrongdoing, they’ve agreed to a settlement to resolve the claims and, hopefully, make things right for customers.

Whether purchased in-store or online, anyone once enrolled in these plans should review their account history. Image source: Lorin Both / Unsplash

If you used any of the following services around the time of the breach, you might be in line for compensation:

• Walmart Family Mobile
• Straight Talk
• Simple Mobile
• Net10 Wireless
• Total Wireless

It doesn’t matter if you bought your phone at Walmart or another retailer—if your plan was under the TracFone umbrella, you could qualify.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The settlement offers two types of financial compensation:

1. Ordinary Losses:​

• Up to $3,250 per person
• Covers things like bank fees, credit monitoring costs, and communication expenses related to the breach

2. Extraordinary Losses:​

• Up to $50,000 per person
• For those who suffered identity theft, fraud, or lost business opportunities as a direct result of the breach

Add those together, and the maximum payout per person is a whopping $53,250. Not too shabby for a few minutes of paperwork!

But wait, there’s more:
All eligible class members can also receive three years of free credit monitoring and $1 million in identity theft insurance—even if you don’t have out-of-pocket losses to claim. That’s peace of mind you can’t put a price on.

Also read: Privacy warning: These popular apps may be tracking you right now

If you’re new to the world of class-action lawsuits, here’s the scoop: when a company’s actions affect a large group of people, those people can join together in a single lawsuit.

If the company settles, everyone in the “class” can claim compensation—usually in exchange for giving up the right to sue individually. It’s a way to hold big companies accountable without each person having to fight alone.

Here’s what you need to do—before the deadline hits:

1. Gather Your Proof:​

You’ll need to show that you were a TracFone customer and suffered losses. This could be a receipt, invoice, or bank statement showing you paid for one of the affected plans or incurred costs due to the breach.

Also read: Walmart responds to new tariffs: which prices go up and which stay locked in

2. Fill Out the Claim Form:​

The claim form is available online (check the official settlement website or the link provided in the original notice). Be honest—submitting a fraudulent claim can hurt other eligible members and may have legal consequences.

3. Submit by the Deadline:​

The deadline is August 7. Don’t let this slip through the cracks.

After the claim deadline, there will be a final approval hearing on September 16. If all goes smoothly, payments and free services will be distributed to eligible claimants soon after.

Read next: This pesky workplace habit has Walmart bosses taking action—staff are being warned

Key Takeaways

• Walmart customers who used TracFone mobile plans, including Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, Net10 Wireless, Walmart Family Mobile, and Total Wireless, can claim a share of a $53,250 settlement over a 2021 data breach until August 7.
• Eligible class members can receive payments for ordinary losses (up to $3,250) and extraordinary losses linked to identity theft or fraud (up to $50,000), as well as up to three years of free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance.
• To receive a payment, claimants must provide proof of purchase and evidence that they suffered out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the breach.
• TracFone has not admitted any wrongdoing but has agreed to strengthen its data security measures to better protect customers’ information in the future.

Have you ever been affected by a data breach? Did you know you could claim compensation in cases like this? Do you have tips for keeping your information safe online?

 

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No and none at all

 

[ElysaS]

No and none at all