Stewart-Gower shares her personal ordeal, revealing she had encountered unauthorized access to her account in late 2021, resulting in identity theft and fraudulent charges on her Standard Bank cards. The aftermath of the data breach left her inundated with spam messages and phone calls.
Dark Web Dangers and Regulatory Negligence
The lawsuit claims that the victims’ personal information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, military IDs, and account details, may still be available on the dark web. Dollar Bank, according to the complaint, failed to adhere to federal regulations, industry best practices, and its own promises regarding cybersecurity. The suit estimates that over 13,000 customers had their private information compromised.
Bank’s Response and Legal Representation
Dollar Bank, represented by Mullen Coughlin LLC, asserts that the breach predates the merger and only affected Standard Bank computers, separate from those containing existing Dollar Bank customer data. Andrew Hasley, a Dollar Bank representative, informed Law360 that the case was already on the bank’s radar due to the initial federal filing, which was dismissed for “jurisdictional reasons.”