We are learning new details about a data breach impacting Saint John’s online parking ticket payment site.
A report by Gemini Advisory says the breach involving third-party software Click2Gov has impacted at least 47 North American municipalities.
Saint John is the only Canadian municipality listed in the report, which was released on Dec. 18.
Gemini says more than 294,000 payment records have been compromised — including names, addresses and credit card info — and criminals have earned at least $1.7 million by selling the stolen cards.
City advises users of online parking ticket payment system of data breach https://t.co/SMKVeJKDhe
— City of Saint John (@cityofsaintjohn) December 22, 2018
The report said software provider CentralSquare Technologies acknowledged a breach in Oct. 2017 and said the problem had been fixed this past June.
But according to Gemini, several municipalities have reported online utility payment breaches since early October.
Saint John has shut down its payment site until further notice and has asked the company for a forensic audit to find out the extent of the breach.
The city said you should contact your financial institution if you see any unauthorized activity on your accounts; if you believe you have been a victim of identity theft, you should contact Saint John police or your local police force.
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
(Photo: freeimages.com)
