Customer sues AT&T for security breach that led to cryptocurrency theft

A customer sued AT&T alleging that it failed to provide appropriate security to prevent unauthorized access to its customer wireless accounts that resulted in the theft of 159.8 ethereum tokens.

Jamarquis Etheridge, an AT&T customer who claims to be a victim of “SIM swapping," filed the lawsuit in the district court for the Southern District of Texas against AT&T Inc. and AT&T Mobility LLC Wednesday.

Etheridge said that on or about Sept. 10, 2020, AT&T allowed wrongdoers access to his wireless account and, without his authorization.

He alleged that the security breach led to the draining of his cryptocurrency exchange account.

He further alleges that AT&T was aware of the harm posed by SIM swapping, as it had issued public advisories on this type of scam.

After the incident, the price of ether reached more than $4,200 per coin. The price of ETH has since dropped to $3,338.

In addition to seeking “compensatory and equitable relief restoring him” to 159.8 ETH, he also asked for damages, attorney's fees, reimbursement for cost,and any other relief the court deems just and proper.