Police remind Michaels customers to check bank account

Police on Tuesday reminded customers of the craft store Michaels to check their bank accounts after payment terminals at three Eastern Iowa stores were compromised.

According to a letter to customers, payment terminals were tampered with in at least 80 Michaels stores across the United States, including the stores in Marion, Coralville, Davenport and Ankeny. Store officials determined the devices that steal names, account numbers and PIN numbers were installed between Feb. 8 and May 6, 2011.

Dozens of people in the Cedar Rapids area reported fraudulent bank transactions to their accounts last week. More than 50 customers of one credit union alone reported fraudulent transactions made in places like North Carolina and California.

The Secret Service is involved in the investigation. Michaels officials said the payment terminals in question have been removed, and new tamper-resistant terminals were installed.

Anyone who detects unauthorized transactions on their account is asked to call their financial institution and local police.

See a list of all the stores affected here.

Other information from Michaels about the incident can be found 

here.