What was exposed in the National Public Data breach?

National Public Data is a background-check data broker that compiled personal information from public and other sources. The breach exposed sensitive data reported to include names, Social Security numbers, and current and historical addresses. The threat actor listed a database that it claimed contained as many as 2.9 billion records, but that figure is the attacker's unverified claim and includes duplicate and outdated entries; independent analyses estimate a far smaller number of actual affected people.

What do the National Public Data lawsuits allege?

The consolidated class action complaints allege National Public Data failed to use reasonable data-security practices to protect the information it collected, collected and stored sensitive data (including Social Security numbers) without consumers' knowledge, and failed to give timely notice of the breach. These are unproven allegations; no court has found the company liable.

What should I do to protect myself after the National Public Data breach?

Because Social Security numbers were reportedly involved, consider placing a free credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus, setting fraud alerts, monitoring your financial accounts, and being alert to identity-theft and phishing attempts. These steps are free and do not require any settlement. Do not pay a site that claims to file a National Public Data claim for you.

National Public Data Breach Lawsuit: 2026 Status

Q: Why is a National Public Data payout unlikely?

Jerico Pictures, Inc., the parent of National Public Data, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 24-20281) in October 2024 and reported very limited assets, and its insurer reportedly declined coverage for the breach. When a defendant is insolvent, class members and regulators are competing for a small pool of money, so even successful claims may recover little or nothing. This is why coverage describes meaningful compensation as unlikely.

Published July 6, 2026

If your Social Security number turned up in the National Public Data leak, here is the honest status: there are lawsuits, there is a bankruptcy, and there is no legitimate claim form — so watch out for sites that promise you a payout.

The National Public Data breach exposed Social Security numbers and spawned roughly 20 class actions; the company then filed for bankruptcy.

By Steve Levine

Editor-in-Chief

▼ Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet

This article describes class action complaints and a bankruptcy proceeding. The statements below are unproven allegations. National Public Data / Jerico Pictures, Inc. has not been found liable, and there is no approved settlement or claim form at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.

What Is This About?

National Public Data (NPD) is a background-check data broker that compiled personal information — reportedly including names, Social Security numbers, and current and historical addresses — on a very large number of people, most of whom never knowingly did business with it. In 2024, that database was breached and offered on a criminal forum, making it one of the most talked-about data breaches in recent memory.

The fallout produced roughly 20 class action lawsuits, which were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, along with a Federal Trade Commission inquiry and action by more than 20 state attorneys general. But NPD's parent company, Jerico Pictures, Inc., then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — a fact that shapes everything about what victims can realistically expect. The allegations against the company remain unproven.

Status Lawsuits Consolidated · Company in Bankruptcy ~20 class actions in S.D. Fla. · Jerico Pictures Ch. 11 (Bankr. S.D. Fla., No. 24-20281)

Data Exposed Names, Social Security numbers, addresses (reported) Threat actor claimed up to 2.9B records (unverified, includes duplicates/outdated data); actual affected people believed far fewer

Can I Claim? No — no legitimate claim form; payout unlikely No approved settlement · Company insolvent · Beware sites promising an NPD payout

What Was Exposed — and the 2.9 Billion Figure

The breach drew headlines because of an eye-popping number: the threat actor advertised a database it claimed held as many as 2.9 billion records. That figure should be read carefully. It is the attacker's own claim, and a raw record count is not the same as the number of real people affected — such datasets are typically bloated with duplicate rows, multiple addresses per person, and outdated or inaccurate entries. Independent analysts who examined the leaked data concluded the number of actual distinct individuals is far lower than 2.9 billion.

What is not in dispute is the sensitivity of the data. Because NPD's business was aggregating identity information, the exposed fields reportedly included Social Security numbers and address history — exactly the kind of information used to commit identity theft. That is what makes the breach serious even if the headline record count is inflated.

The Lawsuits and the Bankruptcy

The class action complaints allege NPD failed to use reasonable security to protect the data it amassed, collected and stored sensitive information (including Social Security numbers) without consumers' knowledge or consent, and failed to notify people promptly. Those cases were consolidated in the Southern District of Florida.

The complication is money. In October 2024, Jerico Pictures, Inc. — NPD's parent — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 24-20281), reporting very limited assets, and its cyber-insurance carrier reportedly declined coverage for the breach. When a defendant is insolvent, the plaintiffs, regulators, and other creditors are all competing for a small pool of money. That is why reporting on the case has consistently described meaningful compensation for individual victims as unlikely, regardless of how the underlying legal claims are decided.

Beware of "National Public Data Settlement" Scams

Important: because so many people searched for this breach, scam sites appeared promising a guaranteed National Public Data payout in exchange for your personal or payment details. There is no approved settlement and no official claim form as of 2026. Do not enter your Social Security number, bank information, or a fee on any site claiming it will "file your NPD claim." If a legitimate settlement or claims process is ever approved, it would be announced through the court and administered by a court-appointed administrator — and OpenClassActions.com would cover it.

What You Can Do Right Now

Even though there is nothing to claim, there are free, practical steps that matter more than any lawsuit when Social Security numbers are exposed:

• Place a free credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
• Set fraud alerts and monitor your bank and credit-card accounts.
• Watch for identity-theft signs and phishing messages that reference the breach.
• Consider using the federal identity-theft recovery resources at IdentityTheft.gov if you spot misuse.

These steps are free and do not depend on any settlement. For questions about your rights after a breach that exposes a Social Security number, a consumer-protection attorney can advise you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a National Public Data settlement or claim form?

No. As of 2026 there is no approved settlement and no official claim form. Roughly 20 class actions were consolidated in the Southern District of Florida, but the company's parent filed for bankruptcy. Be wary of sites promising a guaranteed NPD payout.

What was exposed?

Reportedly names, Social Security numbers, and address history. The threat actor claimed up to 2.9 billion records, but that is the attacker's unverified claim and includes duplicates and outdated data; the number of actual affected people is believed to be far lower.

Why is a payout unlikely?

Jerico Pictures, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with very limited assets, and its insurer reportedly declined coverage. With the company insolvent, even successful claims may recover little or nothing.

What should I do?

Freeze your credit, set fraud alerts, monitor your accounts, and stay alert to phishing. These steps are free and do not require any settlement. Do not pay a site that claims to file an NPD claim for you.

Sources

• The Record (Recorded Future News) — "National Public Data files for bankruptcy, citing fallout from cyberattack": The Record
• TechCrunch — "National Public Data, the hacked data broker … files for bankruptcy": TechCrunch
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida — In re Jerico Pictures, Inc., Case No. 24-20281: CourtListener Docket Search
• U.S. FTC — IdentityTheft.gov (identity-theft recovery): IdentityTheft.gov

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For more class actions keep scrolling below.

Status Lawsuits Consolidated — Company in Bankruptcy

Defendant National Public Data / Jerico Pictures, Inc.

Litigation ~20 class actions, U.S. District Court, S.D. Fla.

Bankruptcy In re Jerico Pictures, Inc., No. 24-20281 (Bankr. S.D. Fla.)

Claim Form None — no approved settlement (beware scam sites)

Official Court Page CourtListener Docket