Business & Tech

Michaels in East Hanover Hit By Security Breach Obtaining Credit Card Numbers

Four Morris County locations impacted by point-of-sale issue over 10-month period, company says.

Information from some 2.6 million credit and debit cards used at Michaels retail stores across the country may have been stolen during a security breach during a 10-month period.

According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chuck Rubin,who released a statement on the issue late last week, “the attack targeted a limited portion of the point-of-sale systems at a varying number of stores between May 8, 2013 and January 27, 2014. Only a small percentage of payment cards used in the affected stores during the times of exposure were impacted by this issue.”

Rubin said the affected systems contained information like credit card number and expiration date, but showed no evidence customer personal information, such as name or PIN, was at risk.

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The company made the list of stores affected available on its website, which included four from Morris County, along with dates that the security breach likely took place.

Those stores include:

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  • Michaels in East Hanover, 410 State Route 10, from May 8, 2013 to October 8, 2013; October 17, 2013 to November 24, 2013; and December 11, 2013 to January 18, 2014.
  • Michaels in Flanders, 30 International Drive Ste. J, from May 8, 2013 to August 11, 2013; August 13, 2013 to October 8, 2013; October 17, 2013 to November 24, 2013; and December 12, 2013 to January 19, 2014.
  • Michaels in Parsippany, 1099 Route 46 East, from May 8, 2013 to July 29, 2013.
  • Michaels in Rockaway Township, 327 Mount Hope Avenue, from May 8, 2013 to July 29, 2013.

See the full list of affected stores here.

Michaels is know as the top arts and crafts retailer in the country with more than 1,000 stores nationwide and in Canada, offering about 36,000 products, according to the company.

Rubin went on to say the company is offering identity protection and credit monitoring services to affected Michael’s and Aaron Brothers – another retail store overseen by Rubin – customers in the United States for a year at no cost.

“We are truly sorry and deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause,” the statement read. “Our customers are always our number one priority and we are committed to retaining your trust and loyalty.”


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