SAN ANGELO, Texas — If you use the City of San Angelo's online "one-time payment" option to pay your water bill, you should make sure to check your bank statement.
A press release from COSA said, some water customers may have noticed irregularities with their credit and debit card accounts after recently paying their monthly statement through the City’s online payment system.
A similar breach happened in 2018. Many who paid through the online system saw unauthorized charges on their bank statements.
The City’s third-party vendor is analyzing data to determine the extent of any security breaches and has provided a preliminary time frame for those affected to have occurred from late August to mid-October.
City of San Angelo Water Utilities Director Allison Strube said the analysis will be paid for by the vendor.
As soon as more data is uncovered, the information will be reported to all affected customers, the City's statement said. If the vendor finds that the system was vulnerable, then customers who made credit card payments during that period will be contacted by mail.
The online “one-time” payment option has been temporarily disabled.
Payments may be made by calling 325-657-4323; or via cash, check or credit card from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at City Hall Annex, 301 W. Beauregard Ave.
A new payment system, Automated Merchant System, Inc., approved by the San Angelo City Council in March, will hopefully to be live by the end of the year, Strube said.
A 24-hour dropbox is also available at City Hall Annex.
All updates will be shared with the media, on the City of San Angelo, Texas – Public Information Facebook page and the City’s website at cosatx.us/water.