Michaels Reveals Debit Card Data Breach
From: NACS Online: CHICAGO – Arts-and-crafts retailer Michaels Stores Inc. announced last week that some customer debit and credit card information had been compromised by PIN pad tampering at Chicago-area stores. The Chicago Tribune reported that authorities confirmed that thieves plundered some victims bank accounts, often for hundreds of dollars each. Michaels, a Texas-based company, operates 1,049 stores in the U.S. and Canada. "It appears Michaels stores in the Chicagoland area have been targeted," said Bloomingdale Police Chief Frank Giammarese. "I can confidently say all 16 of our victims have visited a Michaels store." The U.S. Secret Service began an investigation last Wednesday. "At this point right now, it's a brand new case for us," said Derrick Golden, spokesman for the Chicago field office. One of the most common methods for thieves to steal PIN pad information is by using a “skimmer,” which captures a customer’s card and personal ID information. Golden told the newspaper that it’s “too early to say” as to whether a skimmer was used in Michaels’ data breach.
