Gulshan Management Services Hit by Phishing Attack, Exposing Sensitive Data of Over 128,000
Gulshan Management Services, Inc., a Texas-based operator of approximately 150 gas stations and convenience stores under brands like Handi Plus, Handi Stop, Shell, and ExxonMobil—as well as fast-food franchises including Burger King, Wendy’s, and Sonic—suffered a significant data breach in September 2025. The incident, discovered on September 27, 2025, stemmed from a phishing attack on September 17, during which unauthorized actors accessed company servers, deployed ransomware, and encrypted portions of Gulshan’s network.
The breach exposed sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) of consumers, including names, contact details, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers. Gulshan reported the incident to the Texas Attorney General’s office on January 5, 2026, and the Vermont Attorney General’s office the following day, confirming that 128,652 Texas residents alone were affected.
In response, the company offered free identity and credit monitoring services through Kroll, including fraud alerts and identity theft restoration support. Legal firms, including Shamis & Gentile P.A., are investigating potential compensation claims for impacted individuals.
The breach highlights the ongoing risks of phishing attacks and the far-reaching consequences of compromised corporate systems in the retail and franchise sectors.
Source: https://www.claimdepot.com/investigations/gulshan-management-services-data-breach-2026
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"id": "DHA1767734162",
"linkid": "dhanani-group-inc",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "9/2025",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '128,652 (Texas alone)',
'industry': 'Retail (Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, '
'Fast Food Franchises)',
'location': 'Sugar Land, Texas, USA',
'name': 'Gulshan Management Services, Inc.',
'size': '150+ locations, 200+ employees',
'type': 'Company'}],
'attack_vector': 'Phishing',
'customer_advisories': 'Notices sent to affected individuals with steps to '
'protect their information',
'data_breach': {'data_encryption': 'Yes (malicious software encrypted parts '
'of the network)',
'number_of_records_exposed': '128,652 (Texas alone)',
'personally_identifiable_information': 'Yes',
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (Personally Identifiable '
'Information)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Names',
'Contact information',
'Social Security numbers',
'Drivers’ license numbers']},
'date_detected': '2025-09-27',
'date_publicly_disclosed': '2026-01-05',
'description': 'Gulshan Management Services, Inc. discovered that an '
'unauthorized third party had accessed its information systems '
'due to a phishing attack, leading to the exposure of '
'sensitive personally identifiable information and deployment '
'of ransomware.',
'impact': {'data_compromised': 'Sensitive personally identifiable information',
'identity_theft_risk': 'High',
'systems_affected': 'Servers hosting personal data, parts of '
'Gulshan’s network'},
'initial_access_broker': {'entry_point': 'Phishing attack'},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing (legal investigation for potential '
'compensation)',
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': 'Phishing attack leading to '
'unauthorized access'},
'ransomware': {'data_encryption': 'Yes'},
'recommendations': ['Enroll in free identity monitoring and credit monitoring '
'services',
'Review financial accounts and credit reports for '
'suspicious activity',
'Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication on '
'financial accounts',
'Place a fraud alert or security freeze on credit files '
'with the three major credit bureaus',
'Report suspected identity theft to law enforcement and '
'state Attorney General'],
'references': [{'source': 'Shamis & Gentile P.A.'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': 'Potential class action lawsuits',
'regulatory_notifications': ['Texas Attorney '
'General (2026-01-05)',
'Vermont Attorney '
'General '
'(2026-01-06)']},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Notices sent to affected individuals, '
'regulatory filings',
'third_party_assistance': 'Kroll (identity monitoring and credit '
'monitoring services)'},
'threat_actor': 'Unauthorized third party',
'title': 'Gulshan Management Services, Inc. Data Breach',
'type': 'Data Breach, Ransomware'}