Michael's data hacked

If you've shopped at Michael's lately, you might want to check your debit or credit card records. A friend of mine (a beader) was hit and she warned me. I was there about a month ago and my credit card looks okay.

Michaels Alerts Customers of Potential Debit and Credit Card Fraud

IRVING, Texas, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Michaels Stores, Inc. has learned that PIN pad tampering may have occurred in its Chicago-area stores and that customer credit and debit card information may have been compromised.

The company was contacted this week by banking and law enforcement authorities after some fraudulent debit card transactions were reported over the weekend. Authorities believe the fraudulent transactions may be linked to legitimate transactions in Chicago-area Michaels stores.

Consumers who have purchased items from a Michaels store with a debit or credit card are encouraged to monitor their statements, report any suspicious account activity, and change any PIN numbers and other account security settings. Consumers who believe their accounts were used without authorization should contact the card issuer directly. More consumer protection tips are available at the Federal Trade Commission website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt150.shtm.

The company is working to assist authorities in the investigation. For additional information and updates, visit Michaels website at www.michaels.com.