Cyberthieves Attempt To Hack Texas TxTag Accounts

AUSTIN (AP/CBSDFW.COM) - More than 1,600 Texas Department of Transportation "TxTag" account holders can expect a credit to their accounts following a cyberattack.

TxTag is a system that allows drivers to automatically pay tolls on certain roads via a sticker applied to the vehicle's windshield.

The agency has told the Austin American-Statesman that customer accounts are secure and a total of $46,000 will be credited.

Authorities are trying to identify hackers who from April 6 through April 8 slowed the system. TxDOT officials say the hackers did not penetrate the system or obtain any credit card numbers.

Error messages misled customers who were trying to put more money into their tag accounts, causing them to do several transactions instead of just one. Some accounts ended up being charged more than the necessary amount.

TxDOT spokeswoman Karen Amacker said Thursday that no action is necessary by customers to get the account credit. She says electronic refunds should be completed in a few days.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)