A newly filed putative class action in the Western District of Texas targets Bumble, Inc., over an alleged “massive and preventable” cyberattack in or around January 2026, in which attackers allegedly accessed highly sensitive user data stored in Bumble’s systems. The complaint alleges the compromised information included names, dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers
identity theft
Privacy Tip #477 – This is Identity Theft Awareness Week
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
Years ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) designated the last week of January asIdentity Theft Awareness Week. For 2026, this week is devoted to education and awareness about identity theft, which is an ever-present problem.
According to the FTC, “identity theft is one of the most-reported problems to the FTC every year.” The FTC…
Privacy Tip #460 – Protecting Foster Youth from Identity Theft
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Children's Privacy, Privacy Tips
I served on the Board, and am a big fan of Foster Forward, an amazing organization located in Rhode Island that provides services to foster children and youth and supports the child welfare system as a whole. During my many years of service on the Board, I learned about the challenges of foster children…
Privacy Tip #447 – Understanding Cybersquatting
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
We are seeing an increase in cybersquatting incidents. What is cybersquatting and how can it affect you?
According to Sentinel One, cybersquatting, or domain squatting, “involves the registration, selling, or use of an Internet domain name in bad faith to profit from the goodwill of a trademark that belongs to someone else.” Cybersquatting spoofs…
Privacy Tip #441 – Identity Theft Statistics Increasing in 2025
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
- 1.4 million complaints of identity theft were received by the Federal Trade Commission
- Total fraud and identity theft cases have nearly tripled over the last decade
- Cybercrime
Ally Financial Faces Class Actions Over Data Breach
By Kathryn Rattigan on
Posted in Enforcement + Litigation
Ally Financial Inc., a digital financial services company, faces two class action lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina related to an April 2024 data breach. The suits allege that Ally failed to secure customers’ personal information, including Social Security and auto account numbers. One lead plaintiff claims that…
T-Mobile Sued for Data Breach of 37 Million Records
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in New + Now
On January 22, 2023, T-Mobile was sued in federal court in California alleging negligence, unjust enrichment, breach of express contract, breach of implied contract, and invasion of privacy over the recently-disclosed data breach of more than 37 million postpaid and prepaid customer records.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was informed just two days…
Connecticut Expands Consumer Protections Against Identity Theft and Data Breaches
By Conor Duffy on
Posted in Data Breach
On June 4, 2018, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law Public Act No. 18-90 “An Act Concerning Security Freezes on Credit Reports, Identity Theft Prevention Services and Regulations of Credit Rating Agencies” (P.A. 18-90). This bill makes several revisions to Connecticut laws concerning identity theft, most notably by newly prohibiting credit…
AICPA Survey Shows U.S. Adults Worried About Identity Theft and Financial Fraud and Concerned Businesses Can’t Protect Their Data
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Cybersecurity
A new Harris Poll for the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), which called 1,006 U.S. adults for the report, shows interesting statistics regarding American adults’ attitudes and fears about identity theft and financial loss as a result of cyber intrusions. The poll’s conclusion is that 48 percent of U.S. adults believe that identity theft will…
Privacy Tip #113 – Protect Seniors’ Personal Information
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
I just read an article about a nurse from Florida who was convicted of wire fraud, theft of government funds, possession of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft.
The nurse worked in a nursing home between October of 2011 and December of 2012 and while employed in that capacity, she stole the personal information of 26 patients, and had access to the personal information of up to 150 residents of the nursing home.
Continue Reading Privacy Tip #113 – Protect Seniors’ Personal Information