Sandra Chapman/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - The Secret Service is investigating a security breach at a nationwide grocery chain after a Noblesville man learned his personal identification number might have been stolen as he swiped his debit card at the checkout.
"Somewhere, somehow, someone has managed to access, hack, get into my account," said Ron White. He's been laid off and on Indiana's unemployment roll for two years, and takes pride in stretching pennies from fixing up used cars to making less expensive suppers.
That's why he's bothered by an alarming phone call he received days ago alerting him that someone had illegal access to his unemployment benefits through this Visa debit card.
"They informed me at that time that my account and actually my PIN number had been compromised. My Visa card, my debit Visa card from my unemployment benefits was and has been immediately cancelled," he told Eyewitness News.
It wasn't a problem with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. But for days, no one would tell White where it happened or how. Yet he had a good idea.
"That's food money. We use it exclusively to buy food. And this is why we're able to track where I've used my card," he explained.
Aldi, a national grocery chain, is owning up to the security breach. Ron White shopped at the Noblesville store ten days prior to receiving the warning.
In a statement, store spokesperson Martha Swaney said, "ALDI was recently notified that the security of a limited number of debit card terminals at some stores may have been compromised through tampering."
But Aldi refuses to divulge much more. White suspects other shoppers were also notified.
"In the conversation the individual that I was speaking to alluded to the fact that I'm not alone. I don't know how pervasive this is, if this is a major problem. Who knows?" the former pharmaceutical salesman questioned.
The Secret Service does. Federal agents are investigating the breach nationwide.
Aldi says it "has conducted a thorough review of all stores nationwide and removed terminals that may have been affected."
Aldi has 71 stores across Indiana. Customers who notice any discrepancies with their accounts should contact their banks or debit card companies.
In White's case, he's fortunate his account was flagged before any money was taken. That's because individuals receiving unemployment benefits don't get a monthly statement. They must keep track of spending on their own.
