Texas State Parks Credit Card Advisory

Texas State Park Customers:

The vendor that provides Texas State Parks with reservation, registration and reporting software has notified the agency that from about May 12, 2010 through December 24, 2010 their system was accessed without authorization and credit card data from transactions may have been compromised. Upon learning of this, Texas Parks and Wildlife immediately notified the State’s credit card processing companies so they would notify the credit card clearing houses, which in turn would notify the individual credit card issuers. The vendor has resolved the issue that resulted in this notification and has hired a forensic expert to further determine the scope of the problem.

We are providing you with this information so that you can take steps to minimize your risk. If you have used your card at a Texas State Park during the time frame above:

  • Contact your credit card issuer to ensure they are aware of this incident
  • Review credit card bills
  • Review other financial account information, including bank account and savings statements
  • Watch your accounts for activity that you may not have authorized
  • If you notice any unauthorized activity or transaction, contact your credit card issuer immediately

We also recommend that you place a fraud alert on your credit file. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts. Call any one of the three major credit bureaus listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts (see below for details).

You can also place fraud alerts online by visiting the following websites:

Even if you do not discover any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you remain vigilant by checking your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit reports periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly. You can also order free copies of your annual reports through www.annualcreditreport.com. You should also monitor any suspicious activity associated with your financial accounts. For more information about steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of identity theft or fraud, call 1-877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338) or visit the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.