Texas Panhandle Centers Data Breach Affects 17,127 Texans

What Happened?

On May 14, 2024, Texas Panhandle Centers reported a significant data breach to the Texas Attorney General's office, impacting a total of 17,127 individuals in the state of Texas. This breach involved unauthorized access to sensitive personal information. The exact method of the breach has not been detailed, but the types of data exposed include highly sensitive and personal identifiers, which could potentially be misused for identity theft and fraud.

Information Exposed

• Name of individual
• Address
• Social Security Number Information
• Driver’s License number
• Government-issued ID number (e.g., passport, state ID card)
• Medical Information
• Health Insurance Information
• Date of Birth

Texas Panhandle Centers's Response

Following the discovery of the data breach, Texas Panhandle Centers has taken steps to address the incident by notifying affected individuals through posted notices on their official website and by U.S. mail.

Steps to Take if You Are Affected

If you believe you are affected by this data breach, it is crucial to take immediate action to protect your personal information:

1. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly review your bank, credit card, and insurance statements for any unauthorized transactions.
2. Place Fraud Alerts: Contact one of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to request a fraud alert on your credit report.
3. Consider a Credit Freeze: A more secure option than a fraud alert, a credit freeze will prevent creditors from accessing your credit report entirely.
4. Review Your Credit Reports: Obtain a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com and review it for discrepancies.
5. Report Suspicious Activity: If you notice any suspicious activity, report it immediately to the relevant institutions and consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through IdentityTheft.gov.

For more detailed information about the breach and Texas Panhandle Centers' response, you can visit their official data breach disclosure on the Texas Attorney General's website.