Possible Data Breach at Michaels Stores, Retailer Admits

The U.S. Secret Service is currently investigating a possible data breach at Michaels Stores after banking industry sources found fraudulent activity on cards of customers who shopped at the arts and crafts store.

In light of this information, the attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are investigating a potential class action against Michaels. If you believe you were a victim of this data breach, fill out our free case review form for more information on our investigation.

On January 25, 2014, Michaels posted a press release{: target="_blank"} on its website saying that it received reports of credit or debit cards being fraudulently used after customers shopped at its stores across the country. Michaels CEO Chuck Rubin said that these reports suggest that the company may have been the victim of a data security breach and that the retailer is currently working with federal law enforcement to further investigate the issue.

“We are concerned that there may have been a data security attack on Michaels that may have affected our customers’ payment card information and we are taking aggressive action to determine the nature and scope of the issue,” Rubin said in the company’s press release. “While we have not confirmed a compromise to our systems, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers to alert them to this potential issue so they can take steps to protect themselves, for example, by reviewing their payment card account statements for unauthorized charges.”

Michaels has not released any information regarding when shoppers’ payment cards may have been exposed or how many customers may ultimately be affected by the breach.

This is not the first time Michaels warned its customers to monitor their payment card statements. In 2011, the company announced that criminals had gained access to customers’ payment cards through its stores’ point-of-sale systems. Although Michaels said{: target="_blank"} that these thieves only gained access to about one percent of the company’s PIN pads, dozens of stores across the country were affected by the breach.

If you believe you were a victim of this data breach, fill out our free case review form for more information on our investigation.