Oregon Gets $2.8 Million From $600 Million Settlement From Equifax

Salem, Ore. —  Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced Monday that a nationwide settlement with Equifax, from a 2017 data breach, has been reached.

Nationwide Equifax will hand out $600-million, with $2.8-million going to Oregon consumers.

The September 2017 data breach is being called the largest ever.  The breached information included social security numbers, names, dates of birth, addresses, credit card numbers, and in some cases, driver’s license numbers.

“This mega-sized Equifax data breach affected the personal information of over half of the U.S. adult population. These self-described ‘stewards’ of our data turned out to be incredibly careless with Oregonians’ personal information and let down consumers – who had no choice about providing access to their data in the first place – in a big, big way,” Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said. “I am pleased that state attorneys general have had a role in holding Equifax accountable for failing to maintain the privacy and security of our personal data.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Equifax agreed to provide a single Consumer Restitution Fund of up to $425 million—with $300 million dedicated to consumer redress. If the $300 million is exhausted, the Fund can increase by up to an additional $125 million.

Consumers who are eligible for redress will be required to submit claims online, by mail, or by phone. Consumers will be able to obtain information about the settlement, check their eligibility to file a claim, and file a claim by phone or online. To receive email updates regarding the launch of the Equifax Settlement Breach online registry, consumers can sign up at www.ftc.gov/equifax-data-breach. Consumers can also call 1-833-759-2982 for more information.