Aldi Sees Wider Card-Reader Tampering

JON SPRINGER

BATAVIA, Ill. — Aldi here said that would-be data thieves tampered with payment card terminals in its stores in as many as 11 states over the summer.

The compromised terminals, which have been replaced in all locations, could capture customer information such as names, PIN numbers and account numbers, Aldi said.

Aldi previously disclosed it was cooperating with authorities investigating fraud related to its stores. It said stores in Connecticut (greater Hartford area); Georgia (greater Atlanta); Illinois (greater Chicago); Indiana (greater Indianapolis); Maryland; New Jersey; New York (Rochester and Lower Hudson Valley); North Carolina (Charlotte and Raleigh); Pennsylvania (greater Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) and Virginia (greater Washington, D.C.) may have been affected between June 1 and Aug. 31.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe that Aldi employees were involved” in the crime, the company said in a statement. It encouraged its customers to carefully review their debit and credit payment statements and their credit reports, and to contact their bank and local law enforcement if they believe their payment card was affected.

Stop & Shop stores in 2007 were affected by a similar data-theft scheme. Four Los Angeles men were sentenced to prison terms of five to six years in that case.