The Works Bakery Cafe is warning customers their credit or debit cards may have been compromised recently when their computers were apparently hacked by criminals, according to a news report by the New Hampshire Journal Leader.

Richard French, founder of the Keene, NH-based chain of restaurants, posted a statement on the company's website, stating that federal and state authorities are investigating the apparent cyber crime.
He said the company's point-of-sale computers apparently were infected by malware that was designed to gather information directly from credit and debit cards as they were swiped.

The problem apparently is limited to cards used at The Works locations between mid-January and Feb. 1, French said. He urged customers who may have used their cards during that time period to contact their banks and have their cards cancelled and re-issued.

The company has installed additional security measures in the wake of the incident, and is working with law enforcement agencies, French said.

The Works has locations in Concord, Keene and Portsmouth, as well as in Portland, Maine, and Manchester and Brattleboro, Vt.