Bucks County Consumer Protection Director Mike Bannon says his office and other agencies are investigating a problem with new point of sale equipment, including credit and debit card readers, at Michael’s Arts and Crafts. He says Personal Identification Numbers, commonly known as “PIN” numbers were compromised, and someone took money out of customers’ bank accounts.

“Not to be confused with charging on a credit card, this was cash out of a bank account because people used their PIN numbers, which can lead you under certain circumstances back to the bank account.  That’s what happened here, it’s quite alarming, and people are very upset about it.”

Bannon says Michael’s management has been working very closely with law enforcement across the country, and apparently the Texas-based arts and crafts chain is also a victim.  He says card holders have more protection if they use a debit card as a credit card, eliminating the need to enter the “PIN” number.  Bannon appeared Monday on the WNPV talk program Comment Please by Univest.