ATM Fraud Articles

Ninety victims in ATM scam; number expected to escalate

By: Jason Probst, The Press-Tribune

02/06 (CA) Placer County detectives have identified 90 victims so far in connection with a sophisticated identity theft ring that rigged gas station ATMs to steal personal information.

Detective Jim Hudson, of the Placer County Sheriff's Depart-ment, said the scheme appears to be connected solely to gas stations.

"We have hundreds of victims ranging from Yuba, Placer, Sacramento, Butte and Shasta Counties. We're looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss and it will probably grow," Hudson said.

Investigators have identified seven additional locations where the scam was employed - all ARCO AM/PM stations - including locations in Roseville, Rocklin and Sacramento.

The Press-Tribune contacted three customers Tuesday afternoon buying gas at the Arco AM/PM at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Cirby Way, asking them if the arrests had changed their habits.

All were paying via ATM and had heard of the operation in the news.

"Not really. I'm going about my everyday stuff," said Roseville's Jennifer Fearing.

She added that it's impossible to know which locations might be targeted by scam artists.

"How do you know which places? I shred everything (at home) but I don't know why that doesn't carry out to the outside."

"It's not really going to change my routine," Steve Craddock of Citrus Heights. "It's a little disconcerting. It seems as if they used their talents they could take all that effort and get a job. Or start an industry."

Jim Lee of Sacramento said he's extremely cautious in divulging any personal information - even reluctant to even talk to the press until coaxed.

"It does worry me when they get a little piece of your information. I don't want to be a victim," Lee said. "I have to be certain of people."

The Arco AM/PM manager on duty Tuesday declined comment on this story.

Placer County Sheriffs have made two arrests in the case so far, and continue to investigate.

Emanuel Constantin Moldoveanu, 34, of Sacramento, and Cladiu Hotea, 32, of Orange County, were arrested Thursday at Thunder Valley Casino and charged with suspicion of burglary, conspiracy and possession of forged access cards. Officials said both were found in possession of five fraudulent cards.

Hotea posted $250,000 bail, but was re-arrested on a new warrant Friday in Sacramento after county prosecutor Jeff Wilson said the suspect was sought by the Secret Service and allegedly involved in a "very dangerous" organized crime group.

Hotea, believed to be a Romanian national with a valid passport, is currently being held in the Placer County Jail without bail. Moldoveanu posted $200,000 bail on Monday.

Moldoveanu's attorney, Michael Wise, maintained his client's innocence.

"I'm confident that (my client) has not participated in the gathering of the information and was not in possession of cards. Based on the information I have he didn't receive any monetary reward," Wise said.

As of Monday, detectives said they had identified victims who fell prey to the scam from Redding to Sacramento, where debit card information and PIN numbers were obtained at gas stations.

According to information gathered by the Sheriff's Department, the suspects used a sophisticated setup that employed a card reader inserted into ATM kiosks at gas stations that obtained information from victims' debit and credit cards; along with a miniature camera concealed inside a mirror mounted on the machine.

The setup allowed suspects to procure both card information and PIN numbers.

Officers said the setups allowed thieves to make a phony card by programming stolen information on to the magnetic strips of gift cards from retail stores, and then use them at ATMs.

Officers said that the Arco AM/PM stations were targeted because they are the sole stations that allow a debit/credit card to be used as a debit card only, requiring a customer to give their pin number to buy fuel.

The thefts occurred at the kiosks in all instances, not with an inside cashier, said officers. Hudson said the company is not at fault in the crimes and has been cooperating fully with the investigation.

ATM Cards Scam

Lebanese Loop ATM Security Scam - article

ATM Identity Theft Protection - article

Cash Machine Bank Card Scam in UK - article and other links

ATM Crime - Lebanese Loop Scam - site item

ATM Scam Articles

Crimes of Persuasionon