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AT&T to pay customers $7.75 million for scam

Posted at 10:55 AM, Aug 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-10 13:10:25-04

AT&T customers could be getting a check in the mail soon.

On Monday, Aug. 8, the Federal Communications Commission announced a settlement with AT&T ordering the telecommunications company to pay $7.75 million for allowing scammers to charge its customers for a service that did not exist.

The scam charged customers $9 a month for a sham directory assistance service, and AT&T received a portion of those funds.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration uncovered the sham while investigating drug-related crimes and money laundering committed by the scammer.

Thousands of affected customers, including many small businesses, will receive a total of $6.8 million. AT&T will also pay a $950,000 fine to the U.S. Treasury. Customers will receive a check from AT&T within 90 days.

In 2014, AT&T was required to pay $105 million in fines and refunds to customers for unauthorized third-party subscriptions and premium text messaging services.