Millions of Texans may be affected by this state agency’s data breach
More than 3 million Texans may have had personal information exposed in a data breach involving a vendor used by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, according to a statement from the TPWD.
State officials say the vendor helps process hunting and fishing license sales, and an unauthorized actor may have accessed information tied to those purchases.
If you’ve ever bought a license through the agency, your information could be among the data exposed.
Here’s what to know.
What information was exposed in the TPWD data breach?
TPWD said an unauthorized actor may have accessed driver’s license information, passport numbers, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses belonging to hunting and fishing license customers.
Social Security numbers, dates of birth and financial information, including credit card details, were not accessed during the breach.
The department also said there’s no evidence anyone younger than 18 was affected or that any specific group was targeted.
“We recognize the seriousness of this issue and have identified and implemented additional security options to better protect customer information,” the department said in a statement.
What should I do if my information was exposed?
TPWD is offering free credit monitoring through Kroll to people affected by the data breach. If you think you were affected, you can find out whether you’re eligible by calling the dedicated support line at 844-959-7123. The line is available from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the deadline to enroll is Sept. 14.
The agency also recommends monitoring your financial statements and credit reports for suspicious activity. If you notice unauthorized transactions, report them to the appropriate financial institution or credit bureau immediately.
You can also place a freeze on your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, which can help prevent someone from opening new accounts in your name.
TPWD also recommends placing a one-year fraud alert with one of the three credit bureaus and being cautious of unsolicited emails, phone calls or text messages asking for personal information or directing you to unfamiliar websites.
