Fidelity Data Breach: How to Get Up to $5,000 Before the Deadline

Imagine a big piggy bank of $2.5 million is sitting waiting for people whose info got leaked from a website. That piggy bank is for a data breach (think: a digital break-in) at Fidelity Investments. The deadline to grab your share is just days away!

If you were affected by the August 2024 incident, you have until July 27, 2026 to send in a claim (a request for money) for up to $5,000.

Here is what happened, who can get a settlement check, and the fastest way to file before the cutoff.

Important: The claim deadline is July 27, 2026. Don’t miss it!

What Happened in the Fidelity Data Breach?

Think of a data breach like someone sneaking into a locked filing cabinet at a company. Here’s the simple version:

• Court papers say the break-in happened between Aug. 17 and Aug. 19, 2024.
• Fidelity said it noticed "suspicious activity on its computer network" (weird stuff happening on their computers).
• A forensic investigation (like a digital detective search) found a targeted cybersecurity attack (a planned hack) got into customer data files.
• The stolen files had personal info of 77,099 people, including:
  • Names
  • Social Security numbers (a super important ID number in the US)
  • Financial account information (bank stuff)
  • Driver’s licenses
• The lawsuit says Fidelity didn’t tell customers about the breach until early October 2024.
• About 86,000 other people (or joint account holders) had their financial accounts and routing numbers (like bank route codes) exposed but were NOT told, because state-law notification rules didn’t require it. They can still get settlement money.
• Fidelity said "we didn’t do anything wrong" in the lawsuit but agreed to settle (pay to make it go away).

Fidelity Data Breach Settlement Payments

Fidelity made a $2.5 million pot of money for this. Here’s what you could get:

• $100 cash for eligible people who file a claim (this may change depending on how many people ask).
• + $50 extra if you live in California.
• Reimbursement (getting your money back) for documented losses and fees up to $5,000. This can include:
  • Money you lost
  • Credit report fees (cost to see your credit info)
  • Costs to freeze, unfreeze, or monitor credit (lock or watch your credit)
  • You must show receipts, statements, or other written proof.
• Two years of free identity theft protection and credit monitoring (tools that watch your info so thieves can’t pretend to be you).

The court gave the final okay to this settlement on July 9, 2026.

Who Is Eligible for the Settlement?

The court says you are in the "eligible class" (the group that can get paid) if you are:

• A U.S. citizen who was notified by Fidelity about the breach, OR
• Any other person whose account and routing numbers were exposed by the breach — even if Fidelity never told you.

How to Submit a Claim

The deadline is super close, so the fastest way is online.

1. Go to FidelityDataSettlement.com/form/claim and fill it out on the web.
2. Or download the paper form and mail it to:
   • Fidelity Data Security Incident Settlement
   • c/o Settlement Administrator
   • P.O. Box 25226
   • Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958
3. Make sure mailed forms are postmarked (stamped by the post office) by July 27.

Important: Whether online or by mail, your claim must be in by July 27, 2026.

Strategies for Preventing Identity Theft

Identity theft is when someone pretends to be you to steal money or open accounts. The Federal Trade Commission (a government group that protects consumers) says you can protect yourself by:

• Freezing credit files with the three leading credit bureaus (the companies that track your credit). This is free and stops anyone from opening new credit in your name by blocking access to your report.
• Sign up for fraud alerts. This makes the bank tell you before a new account is opened in your name.
• Review a credit report annually. You can get one free report each year at AnnualCreditReport.com to check for mistakes.

Summary

A $2.5 million settlement is available for people hit by the Fidelity data breach in August 2024. You can get $100 (plus $50 if in CA), up to $5,000 for proven losses, and 2 years of monitoring. If you are a US citizen notified by Fidelity, or had your account/routing numbers exposed (even without notice), you qualify. File online or by mail before July 27, 2026. Also, freeze your credit and use fraud alerts to stay safe.

FAQ

1. What is a data breach?
It’s when someone breaks into a computer system and steals private info like names or Social Security numbers.

2. I was not notified by Fidelity — can I still claim?
Yes. If your account and routing numbers were exposed in the breach, you are eligible even without a notification.

3. How much can I get from the settlement?
You get $100 base ($150 if in California) and can claim up to $5,000 for documented losses, plus 2 years of identity protection.

4. Is the claim form free?
Yes, filing a claim is free. You only need proof like receipts if asking for loss reimbursement.

5. What should I do to avoid identity theft later?
Freeze your credit with the three bureaus, sign up for fraud alerts, and check your credit report every year for free.