The Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) wishes to inform the public about a recent cybersecurity incident that has impacted our operations. Following the detection of this incident, we have undertaken an immediate and thorough investigation. It has been determined that there was unauthorized access to our network, which has resulted in the potential exposure of a small amount of personal information. Our investigation has determined that the legally protected personal information of less than 300 individuals has been impacted by this incident.
We are taking decisive steps to address this issue:
- We have engaged leading cybersecurity experts to assist with our investigation and to bolster our network security.
- Measures are being put in place to enhance our systems' resilience against future cyber threats.
- We have reviewed the impacted data and the individuals determined to have had legally protected information potentially affected have been notified via U.S. First-Class Mail. We are providing them with information and resources to assist them with protecting their information. Please note that the review of data identified less than 300 individuals with legally protected information affected.
In addition to notifying the limited number of individuals potentially affected, we are providing the following information to the general public regarding steps that individuals can take to protect their information:
How can I find out if I was one of the individuals whose information was involved?
Notifications have been mailed via U.S. First-Class Mail to the limited number of individuals whose legally protected information was potentially affected by the incident, and these individuals should begin receiving letters in the coming days. Additionally, we have established a toll-free call center to answer questions about the incident and whether you were mailed a letter. The call center is available Monday-Friday from 8:00am – 8:00pm Central time beginning on April 11, 2024. The call center can be reached at 1-800-939-4170.
What steps can I take to protect my information?
- If you detect suspicious activity on any of your accounts, you should promptly notify the financial institution or company with which the account is maintained. You should also report any fraudulent activity or any suspected incidents of identity theft to law enforcement.
- You may obtain a copy of your credit report at no cost from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. To do so, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free at 1-877-322-8228. Contact information for the three agencies appears below.
- Notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized transactions made, or new accounts opened, in your name.
- You can take steps recommended by the Federal Trade Commission to protect yourself from identity theft. The FTC's website offers helpful information at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
What should I do to protect myself from payment card/credit card fraud?
We suggest that you review your debit and credit card statements carefully in order to identify any unusual activity. If you see anything that you do not understand or that looks suspicious, you should contact the issuer of the debit or credit card immediately.
How do I obtain a copy of my credit report?
You can obtain a copy of your credit report, free of charge, directly from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies once every twelve (12) months. To do so, please visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free at 1-877-322-8228. Contact information for the three agencies is provided below.
How do I put a fraud alert on my account?
You may consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report. This fraud alert informs creditors of possible fraudulent activity within your report and requests that creditors contact you prior to establishing any accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert on your credit report, contact Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion and follow the Fraud Victims instructions. To place a fraud alert on your credit accounts, contact your financial institution or credit provider. Contact information for the three nationwide credit reporting agencies is listed below.
Contact information for the three nationwide credit reporting agencies is as follows:
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Equifax Security Freeze |
Experian Security Freeze |
TransUnion (FVAD) |
How do I put a security freeze on my credit reports?
Under U.S. law, you have the right to put a credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, on your credit file, for up to one year at no cost. The freeze will prevent new credit from being opened in your name without the use of a PIN number that is issued to you when you initiate the freeze. A security freeze is designed to prevent potential creditors from accessing your credit report without your consent. As a result, using a security freeze may interfere with or delay your ability to obtain credit.
You must separately place a security freeze on your credit file with each credit reporting agency. There is no fee to place or lift a security freeze. For information and instructions on how to place a security freeze, contact any of the credit reporting agencies or the Federal Trade Commission identified above. In order to place a security freeze, you may be required to provide the consumer reporting agency with information that identifies you including your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current and previous addresses, a copy of your state-issued identification card, and a recent utility bill, bank statement or insurance statement. After receiving your freeze request, each credit bureau will provide you with a unique PIN or password. Keep the PIN or password in a safe place as you will need it if you choose to lift the freeze.
A freeze remains in place until you ask the credit bureau to temporarily lift it or remove it altogether. If the request is made online or via phone, a credit bureau must lift the credit freeze within an hour. If the request is made by mail, then the bureau must lift the freeze no later than three business days after receiving your request.
Additional Free Resources: You can obtain information from the consumer reporting agencies, the FTC, or from the Texas Attorney General about fraud alerts, security freezes, and steps you can take toward preventing identity theft. You may report suspected identity theft to local law enforcement, including to the FTC or to the Texas Attorney General:
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Federal Trade Commission |
Texas Attorney General |
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and support as we work diligently to resolve this matter.