The Ohio Lottery recently made a formal announcement confirming a cybersecurity incident that took place last December. This statement provided details about the Ohio Lottery data breach, highlighting the unauthorized access to both customer and retailer data that occurred on December 24.
The Lottery acknowledged that the recent cyberattack was associated with a ransomware group and involved significant data theft. Although the gaming system continued to operate, critical systems were briefly shut down as a precautionary measure for containment.
Ticket sales remained uninterrupted, however, information about winning numbers and specific jackpots were not accessible on both the website and app.
As a result of the Ohio Lottery cyberattack, both the mobile cashing app and Super Retailer outlets remain unable to process online prize claims exceeding $599. Prizes up to $599 can still be redeemed at retail outlets, whereas prizes above $600 need to be sent via mail to the Ohio Lottery Central Office for processing.
On December 27, DragonForce took credit for the attack, claiming to have stolen over 600 GB of data. This data breach reportedly includes records of both employees and players, containing sensitive information like names, addresses, winnings, dates of birth, and social security numbers.
The data breach remains under investigation. The attack involved encryption of devices and theft of data. The lottery is actively working towards reinstating full services.
To keep the public informed, the Ohio lottery has urged its customers and retailers to exercise caution with their credit activities while the investigation is ongoing. As a precautionary measure, they advise individuals to diligently monitor their account statements for any signs of fraudulent or irregular transactions.
Ohio Lottery Data Breach Update
To enhance personal information protection, customers are encouraged to consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze on their credit files. The Ohio Lottery has provided contact information for major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, where individuals can take these preventive measures.
Equifax can be reached through their website. Experian can be reached at their website. TransUnion can be contacted through their website.
To alleviate worries, the organization emphasized that the Ohio Lottery data breach did not affect any lottery games or their foundational tech systems. Reassuring customers of the ongoing safety in ticket purchases, the lottery stated that winners of prizes over $599 can still claim their winnings by either mailing their tickets to the Ohio Lottery Central Office in Cleveland or through the Ohio Lottery mobile app.
The lottery is actively working towards restoring all cashing options for customers, and individuals have a 180-day window to claim their prizes from the drawing date or the scheduled closure date of scratch-off games.
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