In a startling case of high-tech crime, two Romanian nationals were sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after being convicted of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The criminals, Laurentiu Stroie, 35, and Cosmin Laurentiu Burlacu, 29, were involved in an illegal operation known as ATM skimming, which allowed them to steal personal information from ATM users and access their bank accounts without their knowledge.
The sentence was given by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon after an investigation by law enforcement uncovered their activities. Stroie and Burlacu, originally from Brăila, Romania, were living in New York City and Indianapolis, respectively, at the time of their arrest.
The Arrest and Discovery
The two men were arrested on June 8, 2023, by the Ross Township Police Department in Pennsylvania. Employees at a local drug store became suspicious after seeing Stroie and Burlacu loitering near the store’s ATM, acting suspiciously. The employees recognized them from a previous incident involving a customer who had reported unauthorized charges on their credit card.
When police arrived, Burlacu showed them a New York State driver’s license, while Stroie handed over a Quebec driver’s ID, though it was under a different name. During the search, police found a hotel key card and several gift cards, each labeled with a bank name and a four-digit number, likely referring to stolen PINs.
This led officers to search the suspects’ hotel room, where they found a variety of tools and items related to ATM skimming. These included fake ATM panels with hidden cameras, ATM skimming devices, logs showing where they had installed skimmers, and over $6,000 in cash. The evidence pointed to a large-scale operation aimed at stealing bank card information from unsuspecting customers.
How ATM Skimming Works
ATM skimming is a criminal method used to steal information from people who use ATMs. Criminals like Stroie and Burlacu place small electronic devices, called skimmers, on ATM machines. These skimmers are designed to look like part of the machine, but they secretly record the information stored on the magnetic strip of a person’s ATM card, known as Track Data.
Gas Pump Skimming Ringleader Cid Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Fraud
To capture PINs, criminals also use hidden cameras, often placed within fake ATM panels, to record people entering their personal identification numbers. Once they have both the Track Data and the PINs, they create counterfeit ATM cards or load the stolen information onto gift cards, which allows them to steal money from people’s bank accounts without them knowing.
In this case, law enforcement found more than 200 gift cards with stickers showing stolen PINs. When agents from the United States Secret Service examined these cards, they discovered that they contained Track Data from various banks. The SD cards recovered during the search also revealed video footage of Burlacu installing a hidden camera on an ATM, as well as footage of individuals unknowingly entering their PINs. In total, Track Data from 78 different ATM cards was found, exposing the widespread nature of this ATM skimming operation.
The Prosecution and Sentencing
The complex investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Ross Township Police, Cranberry Township Police, and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway led the prosecution, which resulted in the convictions of Stroie and Burlacu for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In addition to their 30-month prison sentences, Stroie and Burlacu will face long-lasting consequences due to their involvement in this serious crime. Aggravated identity theft is a significant charge that carries harsh penalties because it involves the misuse of other people’s personal information.
This case serves as an example of how criminals use advanced technology in ATM skimming operations, but it also highlights how law enforcement agencies are working to track down and stop these operations.
Law enforcement agencies continue to warn the public about the dangers of ATM skimming and encourage individuals to be cautious when using ATMs.
