Recommendation

Proceed

Overall Summary

Safe

Why we think so

Michaels.com is the website for Michaels, a major arts and crafts retailer with strong e-commerce traffic and a physical store presence primarily in the United States. The site receives over 33 million monthly visits, ranked about 1,200 globally, and uses well-known secure technology providers like Akamai and Cloudflare. Its WHOIS records show it is registered via GoDaddy with a long-established domain age. Customer contact details, including emails and phone numbers, are publicly available along with active social media profiles. Reported issues include past payment card data breaches that led to fraudulent transactions and some customer complaints about order fulfillment or refunds. However, these incidents date back several years and lawsuits often lacked proven financial harm. The company has faced various legal disputes typical of large retailers, including consumer safety and advertising lawsuits. Overall, Michaels.com is a legitimate site with no current evidence it itself is fraudulent, but users should remain cautious due to historical data breach incidents and standard e-commerce risks.

Confidence Score

88%

Risk Insights

🏪

Established and Trusted Retailer

Domain active since the 1990s

Millions visit monthly, mostly from US

Reputable security and infrastructure in place

⚠️

Past Data Breach Incidents

2011 and 2013–2014 card data breaches confirmed

Some customers experienced fraudulent charges

Lawsuits dismissed due to insufficient proof of damages

📢

Mixed Customer Feedback

Complaints mainly about orders and refunds

No strong evidence of website fraud

Customer care contacts publicly available for dispute resolution

Contradictory Signals

While the website is legitimate and well-maintained, prior security issues have led to some customer risks.

Signal A: Strong, reputable domain and infrastructure

Signal B: Historical data breaches causing fraud

Category Scores

Identity 90/100

Reputation 85/100

Technical 90/100

Content 80/100

Legal 75/100

Business Validity 90/100

Red Flags & Warnings

Past data breaches led to stolen payment card info causing some unauthorized transactions.
Some customer complaints about unfulfilled orders and slow refunds exist on complaint boards.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Age and Registrar Check

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Older domains registered through known registrars like GoDaddy reduce risk of scam classification."

Reason: The domain michaels.com was registered in the 1990s via a reputable registrar, indicating longstanding legitimacy.

Traffic Volume and Source Analysis

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Such large and diversified traffic patterns are typical for trusted retail sites."

Reason: High monthly visits (~33.7 million) with majority direct and search traffic show user trust and established presence.

Security Infrastructure Check

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Strong security infrastructure reduces likelihood of phishing or malware distribution risks."

Reason: Use of Akamai CDN, Cloudflare, and valid Entrust SSL certificate points to reliable security measures.

Contact Information Validity

Score: 80/100

Passed

"Transparent contact details are strong indicators of legitimate business operations."

Reason: Public customer support emails, phone numbers, and social media are genuine and actively maintained.

Blacklist and Malware Scan

Score: 10/100

Passed

"Absence from blacklists is a positive signal for site trustworthiness."

Reason: No listings on crypto scam or Google Safe Browsing blacklists confirm clean reputation.

Reported Scam or Fraud Allegations

Score: 70/100

Passed

"Customer complaints relate to service or breach aftermath, not direct website fraud."

Reason: Historical data breaches caused fraudulent charges but no proof website is currently used for scams.

Your Next Steps

1

Verify payment security and monitor account statements for unexpected charges when shopping on Michaels.com.
2

Use official contact information from the website to address order or refund issues directly with Michaels customer service.
3

Stay informed about any new data breach or security alerts related to Michaels by consulting trusted security news sources.
4

Consider reading customer reviews on trusted platforms to understand current service quality and potential concerns.
5

Report any suspected fraudulent activity linked to Michaels.com to the relevant consumer protection or law enforcement authorities.

Evidence & Citations

Michaels.com Website Technology and Traffic Analysis
Detailed site technology stack, traffic sources, and security services.
WHOIS Registration and SSL Certificate Details for Michaels.com
Domain age, registrar, and valid SSL certificate information.
Michaels.com Customer Contact Information
Contact emails, phone numbers, and social media links extracted from the official site.
Summary of Payment Card Data Breaches and Customer Complaints at Michaels
Analysis of past data breaches and customer reports related to fraud and refunds.
Crypto Scam Blacklist and Google Safe Browsing Status
No current blacklisting or phishing warnings for Michaels.com.

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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