T-Mobile, the wireless carrier, is facing a lawsuit accusing the company of not adequately safeguarding sensitive customer data. The lawsuit, filed in Washington state court, alleges that an employee at one of T-Mobile’s retail stores stole explicit photos and videos from a customer’s phone during a trade-in transaction. This incident is reportedly similar to at least eight previous cases involving T-Mobile.
The lawsuit claims that T-Mobile failed to provide proper training to its retail employees and turned a blind eye to the misuse of customer data. It further asserts that the company has not implemented sufficient security measures to protect customers’ data and privacy during routine transactions in its stores.
In response to the allegations, T-Mobile stated that the employee involved was terminated and emphasized that customer protection is of utmost importance. The company maintains that it has established policies and procedures to safeguard customer information, expecting their workforce to adhere to these guidelines.
According to the lawsuit, the victim, identified as “Jane Doe,” visited a T-Mobile store to upgrade her phone. During the data transfer process, the employee allegedly discovered nude images and a video of the victim engaged in sexual activities, subsequently sending them to himself via Snapchat. It was later found that the images had been forwarded to an unknown account.
Upon discovering the breach, the victim returned to the T-Mobile store seeking assistance. However, instead of immediate support, the store manager insisted that the victim pay them the amount she had received as a discount for the trade-in if she wanted access to her old device. Eventually, the victim’s phone was retrieved with the help of mall security and local law enforcement.
The employee involved in the incident was charged with first-degree computer trespass and disclosing intimate images, both serious offenses. The lawsuit was launched by legal firms C.A. Goldberg and Redmond Law Firm, who have experience in similar cases against tech companies neglecting consumer protection.