While it sounds harmless, the recently revealed AT&T data breach of customers call and text interactions could affect all of us.
AT&T let customers know in July 2024 that someone or some organization had stolen customer data from a cloud platform. The breech affected nearly all customers and covered the period of May 1, 2022, to Oct. 31, 2022 as well as the specific date of Jan 2, 2023.
As a result, AT&T offered customers free identity theft monitoring and detection through Experian's IdentityWorks. We recommend taking advantage of the offer.
You May Have Monitoring Service Through INB Checking
If you are an INB Power or Power Plus checking account customer, you have identity and credit monitoring through BaZing, a service that powers these checking accounts. NOTE: You must activate BaZing identity and credit monitoring to initiate use of the service. If you haven’t taken this step, you’ll find an activation link on our website.
Why You Should Be Monitoring Identity and Credit
While AT&T has said the data does not appear to be publicly available, that doesn’t mean it’s NOT in the hands of someone who could cause personal stress and financial fraud. With the data, criminals can exploit your frequent calls and text messages to orchestrate convincing fraud schemes:
Identity Theft: They can gather personal information to impersonate you, potentially accessing your accounts or committing fraud in your name.
Social Engineering: By understanding your communication patterns, they can craft convincing phishing attacks, tricking you or your contacts into revealing sensitive information. Imagine getting a text from your sister that reads, “Hi! Hey, Sis. I misplaced that check you sent me for mom’s birthday gift. Could you Venmo me the cash?” You might not think twice about opening your app and sending off the money, no questions asked.
Fraud Attempts: Criminals could use the information gathered from AT&T to spoof phone numbers and commit fraud by making you think you’re getting calls or texts from someone you know or trust.
In the case of the AT&T fraud, AT&T asks customers not to reply to the message and to report suspicious text activity. Instead, forward the text to AT&T so they can assist you. If you think the message could impact an account you have with INB, call us. We can put an alert on your account and help you monitor them.
AT&T also told customers that if you are a target of fraud on your AT&T wireless number, report it to AT&T's fraud team. If you suspect fraud on another account, call the customer service number on your bill for help.
Better Safe Than Sorry
This incident is a good reminder for all of us to be proactive in protecting ourselves from fake or spoofed phone, text or email messages, which could lead to scams.
Even though this breach was AT&T’s data, non-AT&T customers could have been impacted if they connected with someone using AT&T for their phone service.