Dive Brief:

• Michaels Stores Inc., a crafts-store chain, disclosed a possible data security breach, though only after Krebs on Security inquired about bank reports. The Secret Service later confirmed it was looking into a possible data security problem at Michaels.

• The Irving, Texas-based retailer has some 1,250 crafts stores in the United States and has been planning a public stock offering.

• In 2011, Michaels experienced a similar data breach at 70 of its point of sale terminals.

Dive Insight:

Here we go again. At this point, it’s unlikely anyone is surprised that the arts and crafts retailer is reporting that their customers’ credit cards were fraudulently accessed as a result of a data breach. The disclosure came seemingly reluctantly, after Brian Krebs inquired about bank reports regarding fraudulent use of cards via Michaels payment systems. These credit card breaches are no fun for the retailer or its customers. But the late-in-the-game disclosures and reluctant reporting do little to bolster consumer confidence. Plus, of course, bigger questions are looming: How many more are there out there, and what is being done to prevent this?