More Than 7,000 Customers Hit With Dell Tech Support Scam Calls and Emails after Data Breach, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges

Dell Canada customers have reportedly been targeted by scammers after a data breach compromised their personal information.

In June 2017, Dell’s third-party call centre in India was targeted in a data breach, potentially exposing customer information.

Customer information that may have been exposed during this breach includes:

• Warranty information
• Service history
• Model numbers
• Personal information

Many Dell Canada customers may have been affected by this data breach. Some have come forward with reports of being inundated with scam phone calls and emails.

One customer alleges he began receiving five to 10 scam calls per day about his Dell purchase, starting in January 2018 and ending in early 2020, when he changed his phone number. After that, scammers switched to emailing him instead.

The consumer filed a complaint, sparking an investigation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). 

The OPC found the compromised customer information was “sufficiently sensitive to require a high degree of protection,” but that “certain safeguards were insufficient” given this sensitivity, per a report it released in July 2020. 

Moreover, the OPC report noted, “Dell failed to adequately investigate the circumstances of the June 2017 breach and failed to adequately respond to customer complaints.”

After the OPC’s report was released, the man who filed the original complaint turned to litigation, filing a proposed class action lawsuit in a Nova Scotia court, according to OrilliaMatters. He filed the class action lawsuit behalf of himself and more than 7,000 potential Class Members he alleges were similarly affected by scam calls and emails regarding their Dell purchases because of the data breach.

Scam communications can be a huge problem. Scammers who take the approach of reaching out to unsuspecting consumers by phone or email could potentially trick consumers into directly paying more money for fake or unnecessary products, or to hand over financial and other personal information, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. 

Customers who purchased a Dell hardware product from 2017 to present and have received scam emails and/or phone calls related to their Dell product since the June 2017 data breach may be able to join a class action lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation.

Litigation can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.