Some T-Mobile users were mailed letters shaming them for their inappropriate online activities. They were warned about consequences, including legal action, if the behaviour continued. T-Mobile said that it wasn't behind the letters and was investigating the matter. Of course, that wasn't enough to put customers' minds at ease.
Who was it and what did they want?
These letters looked authentic enough to put customers on edge. They weren't emails, so this wasn't a phishing attempt. The letter struck a self-righteous tone that came across as a personal attack.
While a private citizen engaging in moral policing is bizarre, what truly rattled T-Mobile customers was the ease of their targeting.
When we asked our readers how they felt, most of them were concerned. Of the 967 readers who responded, 803 indicated that access to personal information such as names and addresses by the miscreant undermined their confidence in T-Mobile. 140 respondents were curious about why T-Mobile had been singled out. Only 23 people viewed this as a harmless and funny incident.
What do you make of these fake T-Mobile letters?
Harmless and hilarious.
2.34%
Wondering why only T-Mobile customers were targeted.
14.55%
Sender knew names and addresses. Reflects poorly on T-Mobile
83.11%
Where did the culprit get the information from?
T-Mobile has been a target of multiple breaches. Most recently, someone tried to repackage and sell previously leaked data on a hacker forum. That's why it's not all that surprising to see that sensitive information is floating around.
While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) instructs companies to get exposed data removed from websites, scrubbing that information entirely from everywhere isn't possible.
T-Mobile previously settled a class action lawsuit to resolve the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s probe into breaches. That means the company has already paid for the missteps that made data leaks possible in the first place.
It's also possible that the source of the information wasn't T-Mobile, but because the incident involved data entrusted to the carrier, it should still be held accountable.
T-Mobile shouldn't take the incident lightly
T-Mobile needs to thoroughly investigate the matter and keep users updated on its progress. The letters that were mailed to customers looked highly professional, and it's unlikely that someone went through all that trouble just to create drama. Prompt action from T-Mobile would ensure that there are no follow-up letters.
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That's not just because the letters themselves are a nuisance and can induce anxiety. Rather, the first letter may have been a ploy to manipulate customers and make them more receptive to whatever might be coming next, including an extortionate demand
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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