A preliminary class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of consumers who were affected by the Wawa data breach. The hackers gained access to the point-of-sale systems at Wawa restaurants in March and installed malicious software that targeted gas station fuel dispensers and in-store payment terminals. The hackers obtained payment card information and then sold it online. The company learned of the breach in December, and filed the lawsuit a few months later. The court’s case management plan split claims into three tracks: financial institution, employee, and consumer.
Class-action lawsuit
In December, a large data breach at Wawa led to a plethora of lawsuits – including a Class-Action lawsuit. These lawsuits are based on the same breach – in which malicious actors took payment card information. While swiped payment cards were easier to steal, the EMV chip technology made it harder to make fake purchases. As a result, class-action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of customers, Wawa employees, and financial institutions.
Now, a class-action lawsuit against Wawa has been approved by a federal judge. The settlement, which provides monetary relief for consumers, also contains an agreement to improve Wawa’s data security systems. A judge has approved the settlement, but the company’s legal team has not yet determined how much it will pay. It is unclear whether the lawsuit will result in any additional class-action lawsuits, though the company has agreed to settle the case for $12.2 million.
Cyberattack
The Wawa Data Breach Lawsuit claims that hackers have compromised all of its 850 locations in nine states. The cyberattack affected Wawa stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Washington, D.C. The cyberattack occurred on December 10, 2019, and the company notified customers two days later. It has taken steps to improve its security procedures, but the cyberattack has not been completely contained.
The cyberattack was so extensive that hackers were able to steal 30 million payment card details. The hackers used this information to create a massive list of credentials, and they then offered the data to online hackers for anywhere from $17 to $220. The credit card and debit card numbers are not the only things that were compromised, as the data can be linked to Wawa purchases. The cyberattack is one of the most widespread in history, affecting thousands of financial institutions throughout the United States.
Gift cards
A Wawa Data Breach Lawsuit could result in $5 or $15 gift cards, depending on the extent of the data breach. A Delaware County law firm representing some Wawa customers filed a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement. The gift cards would be issued to class members who did not experience fraud and to those who did. A preliminary settlement must be approved by the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The settlement agreement explains the details of the settlement.
The Wawa Data Breach Lawsuit seeks compensation for consumers who suffered damages after their payment card information was stolen. The breach exposed payment card numbers and other personal information. The lawsuit is seeking compensation for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in monitoring and protecting their credit and debit card accounts. Additionally, the class action may seek compensation for identity theft insurance or credit monitoring services. The settlement is expected to be finalized in January 2019.
Cash reimbursements
Once the settlement is approved, customers who suffered losses due to the data breach can file claims for cash reimbursements. The payment will cover expenses such as bank fees, credit freeze fees, and replacement cards. The payment will be made to the customer by a third-party administrator. The process will begin with notification to Wawa customers, which will include a website and a press release. However, if you are not a Wawa customer, you can opt out of this program.
The settlement agreement outlines the process for consumers who want to receive cash reimbursements for losses in connection with the Wawa data breach. The payment will come in the form of gift cards or cash reimbursements of up to $1 million. The terms of the settlement are not yet final, but the settlement has been preliminarily approved by U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania judge Gene E.K. Pratter, who presided over the case, said he will make the final decision in January.
