Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) is alerting more than 3 million people who have purchased Texas hunting or fishing licenses that their personal information may have been exposed in a cybersecurity incident tied to the outside company that runs the state’s license sales system.
TPWD said the incident was flagged by Texas Cyber Command and that a review found an unauthorized party could have accessed customer profile data. Information that may have been taken includes driver’s license details, passport numbers for customers who provided them, along with email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses.
The agency said the breach did not involve Social Security numbers, birth dates or financial data such as payment card information. TPWD also said it has not found indications that minors were affected or that the incident targeted any particular group.
TPWD said it has already tightened protections around access to customer data and is working with the vendor to add more security measures and monitoring going forward. The agency noted that hunting and fishing license sales are expected to continue as scheduled for August and the upcoming license year.
Credit monitoring and support line
TPWD said impacted customers can receive a year of identity monitoring through Kroll. People can check whether they’re eligible by calling (844) 959-7123. The agency said sign-up for the free service is available until September 14, and the call center operates 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.
Steps customers can take
TPWD encourages customers to keep an eye on credit reports and account statements, consider placing a credit freeze or fraud alert with the major credit bureaus, and stay cautious about potential scam attempts that use personal details to impersonate companies or government officials.