Fox News, citing California prosecutors, reports that the Romanian mafia has given new forms to an old fraud, debit card skimming, that is, copying the data stored on the card’s magnetic strip, using special electronic devices that are placed either in the ATM or at the POS (merchant ).

Map cloningPhoto: HO / AFP / Profimedia

Brief information:

  • Authorities say they have already caught dozens of suspects, most of whom have ties to organized crime in Romania.
  • Fox News claims that Romanian criminals are coming through Mexico illegally by crossing the border
  • American journalists claim that one of the people involved in this network was Florin Duduianu, in whose name an arrest warrant was issued in 2020, who was caught by the United States police in August 2023 and extradited to Romania.
  • After cloning the cards, the group members would send money to Romania, buy luxury goods or powdered milk, which they would take to Mexico, where there is a shortage and where they traded with drug cartels.
  • They could earn up to $9 million a month — much of it at taxpayer expense.
  • More than $100 million in thefts have harmed taxpayer-funded welfare programs and their beneficiaries.
  • On the same topic: One of the most wanted Romanian subordinates was arrested in the USA together with 47 other Romanians / How the group that caused losses of more than 100 million dollars operated

How it works

Debit card skimmers have long been a problem at gas stations and ATMs. Now a very well-organized network of fraudsters is expanding, Fox News estimates.

Surveillance video obtained by the El Cajon Police Department shows suspects can place a skimmer on a credit card in seconds — and it looks almost like the real thing.

Authorities say they have already caught dozens of suspects, most of whom have ties to organized crime in Romania.

Fox News claims Romanian criminals came from Mexico by crossing the border illegally, while a combination of permissive bail policies and incomplete criminal records allows members to cut off their ankle monitors and escape justice if arrested.

Interlocutor Florin Duduianu, in the “Most Wanted” department of the Romanian police Photo: politiaromana.ro

Thefts of more than 100 million dollars

“Thousands of criminals suspected of ties to organized crime in Romania have been identified as being in the United States, with a large number entering the United States illegally, primarily through the southern border,” said Kimberly Edds Fox News. Public Relations Office of US Attorney Spitzer. “A smaller portion of that population comes as asylum seekers.”

And despite the sweeping arrests in December and January of dozens of suspects in the U.S., Europe and Mexico, where they are linked to cartels in tourist spots like Tulum, thefts are on the rise as thieves redouble their efforts, authorities said.

American journalists also write that the criminals sent money to Romania, launched various schemes to turn it into social vouchers for children or bought powdered milk, which was taken to Mexico, where there is a shortage and where they traded with drug cartels. .

  • Mexican press: “The long arm of the Romanian mafia in Mexico” / How ATM thefts were carried out

They could earn up to $9 million a month — much of it at taxpayer expense.

More than $100 million in thefts have harmed taxpayer-funded welfare programs and their beneficiaries.

“Victims include single mothers trying to put a roof over their heads and food on the table, as well as hard-working people who need help and find themselves queuing at checkouts with bags full of groceries, only to be humiliated when they discover that there is no money in their account because a thief secretly took it,” Attorney General Spitzer said in a statement cited by Fox News.

  • Violator Florian Tudor named “Shark” was arrested in Mexico. He is the leader of a huge group specializing in map cloning

How credit card skimming works

Credit card skimming is a form of credit card theft where criminals use a small device to steal credit card information during a legitimate transaction.

When a credit or debit card passes through the skimmer, the device captures and stores all the details on the magnetic strip of the card. According to axi-card.ro, thieves use the stolen data to make fraudulent transactions online or with a fake credit card.

Credit card skimmers are most often placed in the ATM swipe mechanism or at gas stations. In an ATM, criminals can install a small, unrecognized camera through which they can see when you enter your PIN. This gives them the information they need to create a fake card and withdraw money from the owner’s account.

Sometimes, some retail or restaurant employees who deal with credit cards are involved in skimming circles. These employees use a handheld device to steal your data through a skimmer while you’re doing a normal transaction. For example, we usually give our credit card to the waiter to pay in a restaurant. The waiter comes out with the card, and it’s the right time for the thief-minded waiter to stealthily steal your details with a skimmer.

After the victim’s card details are stolen, thieves either create cloned cards to make purchases in stores, use the account for online purchases, or sell information online.

Victims of credit card skimming often don’t even know they’ve been stolen until they receive a statement or payment notice via email.

Read also:

  • Members of the Duduyanu clan are persecuted. The event is scheduled in the case of blackmail by blackmailers
  • The leader of the Duduien group, wanted since 2020, was picked up at the airport after posting on Facebook what appeared to be: “To see all the Romanian police”