Gulshan Management Services, Inc., a Texas-based operator of ~150 gas stations and convenience stores under the Handi Plus and Handi Stop brands, confirmed a significant data breach arising from unauthorized access to its systems starting in mid-September 2025.
- The intrusion began with a successful phishing attack on or around September 17, 2025, which gave threat actors access to the company’s systems.
- Attackers remained active for approximately 10 days before detection and then deployed malicious software (ransomware) that encrypted parts of the network.
- Gulshan discovered the breach on Sept. 27, 2025, but notifications were sent to affected individuals only in January 2026 — a delay of over three months.
No ransomware group has publicly claimed responsibility yet.
Scope of the Impact
- The breach affected at least 377,082 people whose personal information was stored in the company’s systems.
- While Gulshan’s Maine Attorney General filing specifically reported names, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers being compromised, other state filings and reports indicate broader categories of exposed data.
Types of Data Compromised (varies by report)
The following personal information may have been accessed or stolen:
- Full names
- Contact information (addresses, phone/email)
- Social Security numbers
- Driver’s license numbers and other government-issued ID numbers
- Financial data — potentially including credit/debit card numbers and bank account info in some cases according to certain filings.
This mixture of sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) poses a high risk of identity theft and financial fraud.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ~Sept. 17, 2025 | Initial phishing attack succeeds; attackers gain access. |
| Sept. 17–27, 2025 | Unauthorized access period; ransomware deployed. |
| Sept. 27, 2025 | Breach detected by Gulshan. |
| Jan. 5–6, 2026 | Formal breach notifications filed with state attorneys general. |
| Jan. 8–9, 2026 | News outlets begin wider reporting. |
Legal and Consumer Fallout
Class-Action Lawsuits & Investigations
Multiple law firms have announced investigations and potential class action suits on behalf of affected individuals, citing:
- Delayed notification
- Insufficient data safeguards
- Alleged violations of state and federal data-protection laws
Firms like Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP, Lynch Carpenter LLP, and others are now exploring whether affected victims may be entitled to compensation or other remedies due to harm or increased identity-theft risk.
What Affected Individuals Should Do
If you received a notice (or believe you were impacted):
Immediate Protective Steps
- Place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit reports.
- Review credit reports and financial accounts for unauthorized activity.
- Consider enrolling in identity and credit monitoring if offered by Gulshan.
- Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication on financial and email accounts.
Additional Actions
- Report suspected identity theft to law enforcement and your state’s Attorney General.
- Be vigilant for phishing emails or scam calls referencing the breach.
Broader Context
This breach is part of a growing trend of ransomware and phishing-related data breaches in 2025–2026, with hundreds of millions of records compromised across US businesses and organizations.
