SC · AG Filing: Feb 25, 2025
No cost. No obligation. If your data was exposed by SMC Corporation of America, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Start Free Review →Based on the data types reported in this filing:
Your SSN is the master key to your identity. Once exposed, criminals can open new lines of credit, take out loans, or file taxes in your name.
Combined with a name and other leaked data, date of birth helps criminals pass identity verification questions at banks and government agencies.
SMC Corporation of America was the subject of a data breach notification filed with the SC Attorney General. The AG filing was recorded on February 25, 2025.
From the AG filing description
SMC Corporation of America is a prominent subsidiary of a global leader in pneumatic and automated industrial control technology, supplying critical automation components and engineering solutions to manufacturing, automotive, and technological sectors across the United States. Because of its large-scale operations, extensive supply chain network, and sophisticated corporate infrastructure, the company maintains vast repositories of sensitive records. This includes detailed human resources databases, comprehensive payroll files, employee benefits management records, and proprietary operational documentation. To manage its extensive workforce and business partnerships, the organization routinely collects and retains deeply personal information from current and former employees, contractors, and corporate affiliates. In 2025, SMC Corporation of America reported a significant cybersecurity incident to the South Carolina Attorney General, signaling a breach of its internal network or third-party digital environment. In incidents affecting industrial technology and manufacturing enterprises, unauthorized actors frequently exploit vulnerabilities in corporate networks, remote access tools, or vendor supply chains to gain covert entry. Such intrusions often involve sophisticated malware or ransomware campaigns designed to bypass perimeter defenses and extract valuable data files before detection. While the exact vector remains under investigation, breaches of this nature typically demonstrate a systemic breakdown in digital safeguards, allowing malicious third parties to roam undetected within corporate servers. The exposure resulting from this incident encompasses a wide array of highly sensitive personally identifiable information. Compromised data fields commonly include full legal names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, banking details for direct deposit, and intricate wage and compensation histories. The unauthorized release of this sensitive information exposes victims to severe, long-term risks, including targeted phishing attacks, synthetic identity creation, unauthorized credit applications, and fraudulent tax filings. Because credentials and personal identifiers can be easily monetized on the dark web, affected individuals face a protracted period of heightened vulnerability requiring constant financial vigilance and credit monitoring. As an enterprise operating and maintaining records within the United States, SMC Corporation of America was bound by strict legal duties to safeguard the private information entrusted to its care. Under the South Carolina Consumer Protection Act and general common-law principles of negligence, companies holding sensitive employee and corporate data are obligated to implement and maintain robust, industry-standard cybersecurity measures, including encryption, regular vulnerability assessments, and strict access controls. The occurrence of a successful data extraction strongly suggests a failure to uphold these legal obligations, potentially reflecting inadequate network monitoring, delayed patch management, or insufficient employee security training. Receiving a data breach notification letter from SMC Corporation of America is a formal acknowledgment by the company that your confidential records were compromised as a result of its security failures. Legally, this notification serves as critical evidence establishing your standing to participate in a class action lawsuit aimed at holding the corporation accountable for failing to protect your privacy. Affected individuals do not need to prove that financial fraud has already occurred to seek legal recourse; the increased risk of future harm and the loss of privacy are sufficient grounds for action. Our firm investigates these matters on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no out-of-pocket costs or legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
You may have been affected by the SMC Corporation of America data breach if:
Common categories of compensation in data breach class actions
The hours spent responding to a data breach — canceling accounts, contacting credit bureaus, updating passwords, and investigating fraud — represent compensable economic harm in data breach litigation.
Once your SSN is exposed, protection becomes an ongoing expense. Plaintiffs in data breach settlements have recovered costs for credit freezes, identity protection subscriptions, and time spent dealing with fraudulent accounts — sometimes covering multiple years of exposure.
Fees charged to close and reopen accounts, issue replacement cards, or dispute fraudulent transactions are recoverable in data breach litigation. So are the costs of overdrafts, late payments, and credit damage caused by unauthorized activity.
Data breach victims regularly report anxiety, loss of sleep, and ongoing fear of identity theft. These non-economic harms are cognizable injuries in data breach litigation, particularly in cases involving SSN or medical record exposure.
Note: an attorney general breach filing does not by itself establish a settlement fund, a payment amount, or a claim deadline. If an official settlement notice is later issued, rely on that notice for payment details and deadlines.
Applicable State Law
This breach was reported under the South Carolina data breach notification law, which mandates notification and establishes your right to seek damages.
No. Under South Carolina data breach notification law and federal law, the unauthorized exposure of your personal data — regardless of whether it has been actively misused — can be sufficient grounds for a claim. The breach itself is the injury.
Nothing. The Law Office of David S. Harris handles data breach cases on contingency — you pay zero upfront and owe nothing unless compensation is recovered.
Immediately place a free credit freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name. Then file a complaint with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and contact our office — SSN exposure is one of the most serious breach types.
Banks may reverse fraudulent charges, but they are not obligated to compensate you for time lost, stress, or indirect damages. A class action claim against the breached company can recover those additional categories of harm.
Statutes of limitations for data breach claims vary by state but typically run 2–4 years. Depending on when you learned of the breach, you may still have time. Contact our office for a free eligibility review — there is no cost to find out.
Accepting free credit monitoring from SMC Corporation of America does not waive your right to pursue legal action unless you signed a specific release waiving claims. In most cases, victims who accepted monitoring can still file.
Not necessarily. Many data breach victims are never notified directly. If your personal information was held by SMC Corporation of America during the relevant period, you may still qualify even without receiving a letter. A free eligibility review can confirm your status.
Learn how to participate in the class action and what compensation you may be entitled to.
Join the Class Action →Use our verification tool to confirm your letter matches this official AG filing.
Verify My Notice LetterThis case file references a public filing made with the state filing in SC. This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state government agency.
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