Aldi has removed store Debit Card Terminals after about 250 customers in Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, St. Charles, Elburn and Kane County reported loss of funds in bank accounts, apparently stolen by offenders who obtained their credit and debit card information through those machines.
Aldi, spokeswoman Michele Williams acknowledged “the security of a limited number of debit card terminals at some stores may have been compromised through tampering.” Aldi first gave notice of tampering of debit card terminals on September 17.
Over $130,000 is reported taken from bank accounts of customers from the Wheeling, Illinois Aldi store alone. Wheeling Police Department is working with the U.S. Secret Service on the case, because most of the unauthorized withdrawals took place at ATMs in California, using account information and PIN numbers apparently stolen from Chicago-area stores.
Over 200 debit card owners, who had shopped at the Wheeling Aldi, reported unauthorized withdrawals of $100 to $900 each — 200 debit card account holders in Wheeling and 50 from Buffalo Grove.
Debit card account holders in Woodstock and St. Charles also reported unauthorized withdrawals since customers in Wheeling and Buffalo Grove began reporting in the thefts on September 12, 2010.