On November 9, 2022, GATE Petroleum Company reported a data breach with the Maine Attorney General after the company learned that an unauthorized party had gained access to sensitive information stored on its computer network. According to GATE, the breach leaked the names and Social Security numbers of individuals. Recently, GATE sent out data breach letters to all affected parties, informing them of the incident and what they can do to protect themselves from identity theft and other frauds.

If you received a data breach notification from GATE Petroleum Company, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, companies have a legal duty to protect the consumer information in their possession. When a company fails to implement the necessary security measures to protect your data, you may be able to obtain monetary compensation from the company through a data breach lawsuit. To learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft and what your legal options are in the wake of the GATE Petro data breach, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What We Know About the GATE Petro Data Breach

The available information regarding the GATE Petro breach comes from the company’s filing with the Maine Attorney General’s Office. According to this source, on September 21, 2022, GATE detected suspicious activity within its computer network. In response, the company began working with a third-party cybersecurity company to investigate the incident and determine what, if any, consumer data was compromised.

The GATE investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party was able to access the company’s computer network between September 20, 2022 and September 22, 2022. Further, the company’s investigation revealed that some of the compromised files contained sensitive information belonging to certain consumers.

Upon discovering that sensitive consumer data was made available to an unauthorized party, GATE Petro began to review the affected files to determine what information was compromised and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name and Social Security number.

On November 9, 2022, GATE Petro sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.

Founded in 1960, GATE Petroleum Company is a diversified company based in Jacksonville, Florida. The company operates in a number of markets; however, GATE’s core operations consist of operating gas stations and convenience stores in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. GATE’s business also extends to car washes, fleet and fuel services, real estate, hospitality, and construction materials. GATE Petroleum Company also owns the Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach, the River Club, and the Epping Forest Yacht and Country Club. GATE Petro employs more than 2,938 people and generates approximately $731 million in annual revenue.