Preferred Parking Service: Preferred Parking breach exposes credit card data

Preferred Parking Discloses June Data Breach Affecting Thousands of Customers

Charlotte-based Preferred Parking Service, a manager of parking lots and garages across 15 Southeast cities including nine in North Carolina has reported a data breach involving customer credit card information. The incident, disclosed in filings with Vermont, South Carolina, and Massachusetts earlier this month, occurred on June 7 and 8, when an unauthorized actor accessed the company’s database and extracted files containing names and payment details.

While the filings indicate the breach affected 5,200 South Carolinians, 142 Massachusetts residents, and 11 Vermonters, the total number of impacted customers is likely higher, given the company’s extensive operations in North Carolina. Preferred Parking operates over 240 parking locations in the region, with a significant presence in Charlotte.

In its notifications, the company advised affected individuals to monitor financial statements for unauthorized charges and dispute fraudulent transactions with their banks. It also stated that it had implemented additional security measures to strengthen its IT network. However, responses on Reddit suggest some customers received letters with limited details, expressing frustration over the company’s handling of the incident.

Preferred Parking, which has faced prior criticism for aggressive parking enforcement, did not respond to requests for further comment. Data breaches of this nature often lead to class-action lawsuits alleging negligence in protecting customer information.

Source: https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/preferred-parking-data-breach-credit-card-information

Preferred Parking cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/preferred-parking-service-llc

"id": "PRE1787574623",
"linkid": "preferred-parking-service-llc",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "6/2026",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"

{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '5,200 (South Carolina), 142 '
                                              '(Massachusetts), 11 (Vermont), '
                                              'likely higher in North Carolina',
                        'industry': 'Parking Management',
                        'location': 'Charlotte, North Carolina, USA',
                        'name': 'Preferred Parking Service',
                        'size': 'Operates over 240 parking locations in 15 '
                                'Southeast cities',
                        'type': 'Company'}],
 'attack_vector': 'Unauthorized database access',
 'customer_advisories': 'Advised to monitor financial statements and dispute '
                        'fraudulent transactions',
 'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'Yes',
                 'number_of_records_exposed': '5,353+ (reported in filings)',
                 'personally_identifiable_information': 'Names, payment '
                                                        'details',
                 'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (payment information, personally '
                                        'identifiable information)',
                 'type_of_data_compromised': 'Credit card information, names'},
 'date_detected': '2024-06-07',
 'description': 'Charlotte-based Preferred Parking Service reported a data '
                'breach involving customer credit card information. An '
                'unauthorized actor accessed the company’s database and '
                'extracted files containing names and payment details on June '
                '7 and 8. The breach affected thousands of customers across '
                'multiple states, with a significant presence in North '
                'Carolina.',
 'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Negative impact due to prior criticism '
                                       'for aggressive parking enforcement',
            'customer_complaints': 'Frustration over limited details in breach '
                                   'notifications',
            'data_compromised': 'Names and payment details (credit card '
                                'information)',
            'identity_theft_risk': 'High',
            'legal_liabilities': 'Potential class-action lawsuits alleging '
                                 'negligence',
            'payment_information_risk': 'High',
            'systems_affected': 'Database containing customer payment '
                                'information'},
 'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': 'Additional security '
                                                  'measures implemented'},
 'references': [{'source': 'Company filings with Vermont, South Carolina, and '
                           'Massachusetts'}],
 'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': 'Potential class-action lawsuits',
                           'regulatory_notifications': 'Filed disclosures with '
                                                       'Vermont, South '
                                                       'Carolina, and '
                                                       'Massachusetts'},
 'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Notified affected individuals via '
                                        'letters with advice to monitor '
                                        'financial statements',
              'remediation_measures': 'Implemented additional security '
                                      'measures to strengthen IT network'},
 'threat_actor': 'Unauthorized actor',
 'title': 'Preferred Parking Data Breach Affecting Thousands of Customers',
 'type': 'Data Breach'}