Six Europeans, including individuals from Ireland, Romania, and Great Britain, are facing charges in connection with an extensive card skimming operation that targeted retail locations and ATMs across multiple states. The group is accused of illegally withdrawing over $300,000 from compromised bank accounts. Four of the defendants, residing in California, appeared in federal court in Rhode Island on Tuesday, while a fifth individual is being transported to Rhode Island. An outstanding arrest warrant has been issued for the sixth person involved, according to the state’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The investigation into the skimming scheme began last fall when Bristol, Rhode Island police were alerted about a skimmer found at a bank’s drive-through ATM. Homeland Security Investigations subsequently discovered that at least one member of the theft ring had placed skimming devices at BJ’s Wholesale Clubs and Walmarts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including locations in Warwick, Johnston, Coventry, Avon, Raynham, Seekonk, and Walpole. In total, 22 skimmers were found at BJ’s locations in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. Additionally, skimmers were discovered at two banks in Westerly, Rhode Island.
The impact of the scheme became evident when an elderly couple reported that $25,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn from their accounts. The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that a total of $279,250 had been withdrawn from various Westerly Community Credit Union ATMs, affecting 44 accounts.
Security camera footage allegedly captured one or more of the six individuals tampering with checkout devices between September and December of the previous year. U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha described the defendants’ scheme as “staggering” due to its scale, scope, and audacity.
Armando Ion Condreanu, a 23-year-old from Ireland, faces charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Isabela Ignat Codreanu (23) and Mila Ciuciu (20), both from Romania, along with Robby Viscon Codreanu (20) from Great Britain, are each charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Nicolas Longin Codreanu (21), a Romanian and Irish national, is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshals and will face charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft in Rhode Island. Ionut Zamfir (37) from Romania is also facing the same charges but remains at large.
2 Responses
I remember a few years ago when I fell victim to a card skimming operation while traveling in Europe. I was on a solo trip, exploring different countries and enjoying the local culture. One day, I decided to withdraw some cash from an ATM in a popular tourist area.
Little did I know, that particular ATM had been compromised by a group of skilled criminals. They had installed a card skimming device that was almost impossible to detect. As I inserted my card and entered my PIN, I had
This is a concerning issue that needs to be brought to the attention of as many people as possible. I would be more than happy to share this post on my social media accounts and website to help spread awareness about this card skimming operation. It’s crucial that we stay informed and vigilant to protect ourselves from such scams.