• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, December 2, 2024

Consumers have been receiving emails notifying them of their eligibility for a settlement stemming from a breach of Equifax data in 2017. 

The question is: Are the emails authentic?

The consensus among responsible observers is that they are. 

You may recall that the Equifax data breach affected information on 147 million consumers. The settlement, which was agreed to by the Federal Trade Commission, provides $425 million in assistance to victims, although it is not yet clear how much will be paid to each person. 

The emails in question inform recipients that they will receive a prepaid electronic card during the week of December 9. 

According to published reports, these emails address the person by their first and last name, and come from one of two possible addresses: 

• distribution@equifaxbreachsettlement.com
• info@equifaxbreachsettlement.com

To verify the claim, consumers are asked to supply such information as the last six digits of their Social Security number. But they are advised not to share any other personal data. 

A report in Forbes issues these guidelines to help consumers avoid harm:

• Don’t share full Social Security numbers, bank account details or passwords
• Beware of emails that come from an unfamiliar sender or email address
• Legitimate emails will not contain poor grammar, typos and urgent language such as “act now” or “urgent deadline”

It was a staggering breach, but some compensation is on the way.