What Happened in the Texas Digestive Specialists / Family Health Specialists Data Breach?         

        
On June 2 2025, the InterLock ransomware group infiltrated the network used by Texas Digestive Specialists-listed on the gang’s leak site under the confusing label Family Health Specialists.  
        
InterLock claims it exfiltrated 263 GB of data in 16 ,920 folders containing 215 ,245 files before encrypting local copies. Texas Digestive Specialists is a multi-location gastroenterology practice serving the Rio Grande Valley (McAllen, Brownsville, and Harlingen).  
        
No defacement appeared on the provider’s public website, and as of publication the organization has issued no official statement confirming or denying the incident.        
        

Breach Timeline         

Prior to June 2 2025 - InterLock gains foothold, begins data exfiltration (exact dwell time unknown).     
June 2 2025 - InterLock completes exfiltration (263 GB) and deploys ransomware payload.         
June 3 2025 - InterLock lists “Family Health Specialists (Texas Digestive Specialists)” on its dark-web leak site.         
June 3 - 17 2025 - Third-party researchers download sample data; no public notice from the provider appears.         
June 18 2025 - This breach description published; incident still unacknowledged on the HHS OCR portal.         
        

What Are the Potential Risks for Affected Individuals?         

1. Medical Identity Theft - Fraudsters can combine lab results, patient IDs, and demographic data to obtain prescriptions or submit false insurance claims.         
2. Targeted Phishing & Social Engineering - Knowledge of recent gastroenterology visits or specific lab tests can lend credibility to malicious emails, texts, or calls.         
3. Blackmail or Harassment - Sensitive diagnostic information (e.g., colorectal findings, weight-loss procedures) could be misused to embarrass or pressure victims.         
4. Insurance Fraud & Billing Scams - Attackers may open new insurance policies or reroute benefits using stolen PHI.         
   Because ransomware operators often resell or trade stolen data long after initial publication, these risks can persist for years.        
           

What Is Texas Digestive Specialists Doing in Response?         

As of June 18 2025 there is no breach notice on Texas Digestive Specialists’ site, no press release, and no entry on the HHS Office for Civil Rights breach portal. Incident-response work is likely still under way; U.S. law requires notification within 60 days once the scope is confirmed, so public filings may yet appear.        
Typical remediation steps in comparable healthcare breaches include:        

• Engaging a digital-forensics firm         
• Securing and rebuilding affected systems         
• Providing patient notification letters and free credit/identity-monitoring services         
• Reporting to HHS OCR and relevant state attorneys-general         
          

What Should You Do If You Were Affected?         

1. Watch the Mail (and Email) - Look for an official notification letter from Texas Digestive Specialists.         
2. Monitor Insurance Statements & Explanation of Benefits - Challenge unfamiliar charges immediately.         
3. Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze - Especially if any financial identifiers are ultimately confirmed compromised.         
4. Be Skeptical of Gastroenterology-Related Messages - Treat unsolicited lab-result portals, doctor-referral calls, or “billing” texts as potential phishing.         
5. Use a Password Manager & Unique Credentials - Even though the breach centers on PHI, credential reuse still magnifies risk.         
6. Stay Informed - Follow DataBreach.com updates and check the HHS breach portal periodically for an official posting.         
   Taking these steps can significantly reduce the likelihood of insurance fraud, identity theft, or exploitation of sensitive health information tied to this breach.