In January, Michaels Stores hinted at a possible data breach, and on Thursday, the company confirmed that hackers gained access to more than 2.6 million shoppers’ debit and credit card information.
In a statement, Michaels said customers’ card numbers and expiration dates were compromised when they were swiped at certain point-of-sale systems in its craft stores and Aaron Brothers framing stores that were infiltrated with malware; however, the company said that there was no evidence of hackers gaining access to customers’ names, addresses or PINs.
Customers shopping at Michaels craft stores nationwide between May 8, 2013 and January 27, 2014 may have had their payment card information stolen, the company said. Additionally, those shopping at certain Aaron Brothers stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington between June 26, 2013 and February 27, 2014 may have been affected by the breach. A full list of Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores that were affected by the breach can be found on Michaels.com.
Michaels said that the “highly sophisticated” malware has since been contained and no longer poses a threat to shoppers.
“We are truly sorry and deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause,” Michaels Stores CEO Chuck Rubin said in a statement. “While we have received limited reports of fraud, we are offering identity protection and credit monitoring services to affected Michaels and Aaron Brothers customers in the U.S. for 12 months at no cost to them.”
Those who suspect they may have shopped at either Michaels or Aaron Brothers during the data breach can access information on registering for identity protection and credit monitoring systems on the company’s website. Shoppers may also contact Michaels toll-free at 1-877-412-7145 with any additional questions they may have.
In light of this recent development, the attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are investigating potential claims on behalf of Michaels and Aaron Brothers customers, and would like to hear from anyone who believes their information was compromised in the breach. Contact us today to learn more about our investigation and the legal options that may be available to you.
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