Attorneys at Almeida Law Group are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed on behalf of individuals affected by a possible Ritz Safety data breach. According to dark web monitoring sources, a hacker group calling itself thegentlemen claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Ritz Safety in a post first observed in September 2026, alleging it had gained access to internal company systems. As of this writing, Ritz Safety has not issued a public confirmation of the incident, and the exact scope of any exposed data remains unknown. If you believe you were affected, contact Almeida Law Group.
About Ritz Safety
Ritz Safety LLC is a family-owned safety supply and personal protective equipment (PPE) distributor founded in 1983. The company distributes products including gloves, eyewear, head protection, boots, signs, and first aid supplies, and also offers equipment rental, repair services, and custom safety signs. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Ritz Safety operates approximately 17 locations across the United States, including in Florida, Texas, Indiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Oregon, and serves industrial and commercial customers across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and utilities.
What Happened?
On September 7th, 2026, Ransomware.live reported that Ritz Safety had been listed as a claimed victim on the dark-web leak site of The Gentlemen ransomware group. This is an attacker-side allegation only. No public statement, breach notification, or regulatory filing from Ritz Safety has been identified, and no independent corroborating news coverage of this specific incident was found. The exact types of data allegedly involved, the volume of any data claimed to have been exfiltrated, and the dates of any breach or discovery have not been disclosed or confirmed.
The Gentlemen is a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation that emerged around July 2025 and is reported to be led by a Russian-speaking threat actor. The group employs a dual-extortion model, exfiltrating data before encrypting systems and threatening to publish stolen information. According to Bitsight, the group’s activity increased by approximately 2,100% as of August 2026 compared to its baseline level, and it is known to target manufacturing among other sectors. The claim description posted on the leak site contains detailed company background information that appears drawn from public business intelligence sources rather than from any confirmed exfiltrated data.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Company or Organization: Ritz Safety LLC
- Industry: Safety equipment and PPE distribution (wholesale distribution)
- Location: Dayton, Ohio (headquarters), with locations across the United States
- Incident type: Ransomware claim (dark-web leak site allegation; unconfirmed)
- Source: Ransomware.live – Ritz Safety, Bitsight – The Gentlemen Threat Profile, Blackpoint Cyber – The Gentlemen Ransomware, Ritz Safety Official Website
What Should You Do?
Even though Ritz Safety has not confirmed this incident, it is reasonable to take precautionary steps if you are a customer or have otherwise provided personal information to the company. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — and monitor your bank and financial accounts closely for any suspicious activity. You are entitled to free annual credit reports from each bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you believe your identity has already been misused, visit IdentityTheft.gov for step-by-step guidance from the Federal Trade Commission.
Your Legal Rights
If your personal information was involved in this breach, you may have legal rights depending on the facts of the incident and the law in your state. Almeida Law Group represents consumers in data breach and privacy litigation and can help you evaluate whether you may have a claim. Contact us at (708) 529-5418 or through our contact page for a free case evaluation.
