AMERICANS are in line to receive a check as part of a privacy settlement worth almost $5 million.
The pay-out relates to citizens in Illinois who appeared on a reverse-search website.
The website is operated by PeopleFinders and a lawsuit alleges that execs of its parent company Confi-Chek used data without permission.
The settlement affects people whose names appeared on the PeopleFinders website and were clicked on between November 2, 2021, and January 1, 2023.
Legal docs claim the state’s Right of Publicity Act was violated.
Chiefs have not admitted any wrongdoing.
Payments worth up to $178 will be handed out but the amount could be more.
This is dependent on the number of people who apply for their share of the settlement.
It’s estimated that checks issued will range between $89 and $178.
Claimants do not have to prove they were affected by the breach.
But they must submit a form if they want to receive the cash.
Those that don’t apply will not receive any money.
Americans face a race against time to apply as the deadline is October 7.
October 7 is also the deadline to opt-out or object to the settlement.
A final approval hearing has been scheduled for November 14.
Claimants do not have to appear at the hearing, which will take place in Chicago, but can do so if they wish.
Officials say checks will be issued either via direct deposit or mailed within 28 days of the settlement becoming effective.
But payments that are not cashed in will expire. Americans have 180 days to cash in their checks.
The U.S. Sun has reported how shoppers who bought cans of tuna fish can apply for a share of a $152.2 million settlement.
And, the genetics company 23andMe is paying out $30 million to resolve claims related to a 2023 data breach.
Americans have until October 17 to apply for their share of a privacy settlement worth $115 million.
A lawsuit accused the cloud applications provider Oracle of illegally collecting personal data.
The company has admitted no wrongdoing but is paying out to Americans impacted.
