Advance America class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff John Wilkinson filed a class action lawsuit against Advance America Cash Advance Centers Inc.
- Why: Advance America allegedly failed to adequately safeguard sensitive consumer data, leaving it vulnerable to a February 2023 data breach.
- Where: The Advance America class action lawsuit was filed in South Carolina federal court.
- How to find help: Consumers who received a data breach letter informing them their information was compromised in a cybersecurity incident may qualify to participate in a free data breach class action lawsuit investigation.
A consumer hit Advance America Cash Advance Centers Inc. with a class action lawsuit in the wake of a data breach that allegedly exposed the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) of those who used the companyโs loan services.
Advance America is a company that provides cash advances and other loan services in the United States.
Plaintiff John Wilkinson Advance America claims recently informed him of the data breach, which reportedly took place around Feb. 7. An unauthorized user allegedly gained access to the companyโs business records, including consumersโ Social Security numbers and other PII.
Advance America data breach result of negligence, lawsuit says
Wilkinson alleges the Advance America data breach is a result of the companyโs alleged failure to maintain a security system to adequately protect consumersโ PII. He claims the loan company failed to take basic security measures, such as encrypting sensitive consumer information.
Wilkinson says he is concerned unencrypted PII may end up for sale on the dark web or fall into the hands of other unauthorized individuals.
โDue to [Advance Americaโs] negligence, cybercriminals obtained everything they need to commit identity theft and wreak havoc on the financial and personal lives of thousands of individuals,โ the Advance America data breach class action states.
Despite knowing about the data breach in February, Wilkinson claims the company failed to notify those affected until the middle of August.
He notes data breach victims are at an โimmediate, imminent and heightened risk of all manners of identity theftโ and will likely have to spend time and money to mitigate the damage.
Wilkinson filed the Advance America class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and a proposed class of others whose PII may have been accessed in the Advance America data breach. There are other class actions in the works over the data breach, as well.
This isnโt the first class action lawsuit Advance America has faced. In 2010, the company agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it charged illegal fees and excessively high interest rates.
Were you affected by the Advance America data breach? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Wilkinson is represented by Elizabeth Dalzell of Shealey Law Firm and William B. Federman of Federman & Sherwood.
The Advance America data breach class action lawsuit is John Wilkinson v. Advance America, Cash Advance Centers Inc., Case No. 6:23-cv-04347-DCC, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Greenville Division.
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283 thoughts onAdvance America class action alleges loan provider could have prevented data breach
I received a notice of a data breach on august 16 i have since paid my loan off i am concerned that my information can be used for fraud is there anything that I can do
I received a letter as well about the data breach. Who do I contact?
Has my information been compromised? I have used their services in the past and am still using them.
I received a letter in August regarding the breach at Advance America, stating it took place in February. My thing is why am I being notified in mid August when I should have been notified in February when it happened! I am confused and worried about my information being out there.
Linda Cook
I havenโt received a letter but I would like to find out more about this law suit I have and account with them know.
My mom received the letter and I thought it was a scam because she stated it was years ago she used them because of the date. Then I received a letter about 2 or more weeks after she got a letter . I would like more information on the Class Action please
I have used them in the past , but uncertain if it was during the breach. I canโt recall getting a letter or email, what is the best way to proceed?
I would like to join class action
I received letter from advance America about a week ago
I received a letter the end of August 2 weeks ago informing me about the breach.