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A South Elgin man told ABC7 Chicago that he intended to donate $10 outside a Jewel-Osco, tapped his debit card against a phone, and later found a $2,000 debit from his account. In its October 1, 2026 report, ABC7 said South Elgin police were actively investigating and seeking information about two people shown in surveillance photos. The report did not say they had been identified or arrested.
What the customer says happened
Chris Louangrath told ABC7 Chicago that people approached him outside a Jewel-Osco in South Elgin, Illinois, asking for donations to help a young relative who had been a victim of gun violence. He said he wanted to give $10, had no cash, and was offered contactless payment. Louangrath said he tapped his debit card against a phone; later, he saw a $2,000 debit instead of the donation he intended.
“I was shocked. I called the bank right away,” Louangrath told ABC7. The report describes the incident as an alleged tap-to-pay scam. It does not establish exactly how the amount was entered or authorized, so the reported transaction should not be treated as proof that a particular payment system was exploited.
What police and the bank said
Police investigation
ABC7 reported on October 1, 2026, that South Elgin police were actively investigating and asked anyone with information about two people pictured in surveillance photos to contact the department. The report did not state that either person had been identified or arrested. Deputy Chief Brett Czechowski told ABC7: “Frauds like this are felonies, which by themselves are very serious.”
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Louangrath’s bank dispute
Louangrath said he contacted his bank, Associated Bank, immediately. According to his account to ABC7, he first received temporary credit, was later told he would be responsible because he had physically tapped his card, and then learned—after contacting ABC7’s I-Team—that the bank had approved his fraud claim. The report does not explain the bank’s decision or establish how another customer’s dispute would be handled.
Associated Bank told ABC7 it could not disclose customer-account information and declined to comment. Square said it has policies and systems designed to protect merchants and customers, monitors activity on its platform, and may take steps such as deactivation under its policies. Those general statements do not confirm that Square processed this transaction or explain how the alleged charge occurred.
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How to respond to an unfamiliar tap-to-pay request
Officials’ advice reported by ABC7 was not to hand phones to strangers and not to tap a card or phone to complete a transaction with someone you do not know. If you decide to make a payment, keep control of your device and check the amount and recipient on the payment screen before authorizing it. Those are practical precautions, not a tested technical fix for the incident described.
If an unexpected charge appears, contact your bank promptly using the number on your card or the bank’s official app, report the transaction, and ask how to dispute it. Keep relevant records, such as the transaction details and any messages or receipts. The outcome Louangrath described is specific to his case; ABC7 did not report a rule guaranteeing the same result for other disputes.
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What this report does—and does not—establish
- ABC7 reported one customer’s account of a $10 intended donation followed by a $2,000 debit.
- The report described police as actively investigating on October 1, 2026; it did not report an identification or arrest.
- It did not establish the transaction’s exact mechanics, a verified product that prevents this kind of alleged amount substitution, or how frequently such incidents occur.
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