Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

ATM Scam netted man at least $400,000
Houston Chronicle ^ | 5/10/2005 | AP

Posted on 05/10/2005 9:59:19 PM PDT by Stonedog

ATM scam netted man at least $400,000 Associated Press

BOSTON — A man with ties to the Russian mob used secretly installed bank card readers and spy cameras to record passwords and steal at least $400,000 from ATM users over the past two years, authorities said.

Ioan Emil Codarcea, 35, was being held on $2 million cash bail after he pleaded innocent today to charges including identity fraud, forgery and larceny. Authorities said he also is wanted in Canada in a similar scheme.

Codarcea, a Romanian national, was accused of installing phony magnetic card readers on doors leading to the ATM machines, or on the actual machines, in several communities in Massachusetts and in Manchester, N.H.

The readers recorded the card information while tiny cameras focused on the ATM keypad, capturing customer passwords and transmitting the images to a laptop computer, police said.

Codarcea allegedly used the bank card information to make duplicate magnetic strips, which he and several accomplices used to withdraw money from more than 400 customers' accounts starting in March 2003.

The scam, known as skimming, has been reported in recent years elsewhere round the country.

"Too many people are getting the hang of this stuff," Detective Steven Blair said. "You can buy the equipment for under $1,000, and it's all available on eBay."

Most of the victims didn't know money was being siphoned from their accounts until their bank notified them. Police would not release the names of the banks involved and said customers were reimbursed.

Codarcea was arrested May 1 by the U.S. Border Patrol while allegedly trying to smuggle illegal Pakistani immigrants into Vermont from Canada. He was turned over to Boston police on Monday.

Police wouldn't detail how they were led to Codarcea, but said they trailed him and took photos of him installing and retrieving the magnetic card readers loaded with account data.

Authorities said he did not work alone, and police have video of him teaching accomplices how to install the equipment, Blair said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atm; boston; money; scam; skimming
I'm going back to Mason jars in the backyard.
1 posted on 05/10/2005 9:59:20 PM PDT by Stonedog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Stonedog

Dang....first Ted Kennedy kills off people with "auto accidents", then, just today we find out he committed tax fraud, and now he seems to be hitting ATM machines...

When will the madness end???


2 posted on 05/10/2005 10:01:13 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArmyBratproud

...And you know who his accomplices are? John Kerry and Barney Frank.


3 posted on 05/10/2005 10:03:36 PM PDT by Stonedog (I don't know what your problem is, but I bet it's difficult to pronounce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ArmyBratproud

What's more worrisome?

The ATM scam or the fact he was smuggling Muslim immigrants in through Canada?


4 posted on 05/10/2005 10:10:35 PM PDT by TFine80
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Stonedog
Many people do not know about skimmers/skimming. Nowadays it is far easier to skim than it has ever been, and for 3,000-5,000 (I do not know how they came up with the 1,000 figure) one can get a minituare skimmer, plus a machine for making magnetic-strip cards.

It is more important than ever to always check our credit (AND DEBIT) card balances.

5 posted on 05/10/2005 10:14:15 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear tipped ICBMs: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stonedog

Can't you just see those three idiots trying to jack an ATM?! Trying to pull it away from the pack-n-sack with Teddy's old Buick.....

Frank: Guys.....what happens if we get caught?

Kerry: Don't worry man...I ordered these medals. We just pin them on and say we were in Iraq. Throw them over a fence...and run for President.

Kennedy: Hey guys.....before I put this thing in gear, let me get my snorkel.

Kerry: Alright fat boy, I got the chain around the machine.....put it in drive.

Frank: D@mmit you drunk fool, you ran over my foot

Kennedy: Oh Rosie.....Oh Rosie....Hey guys...before we leave...do you think we can heist the beer cooler too.


6 posted on 05/10/2005 10:14:45 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Stonedog

Romanians seem to be big on this scam. In Norway and England they have found alot of skimmers on bank machines. They are 3 romanians sitting in jail in NOrway apprehended with skimmer machines in their hotel room full of card nos. I suggest anyone that uses a mini bank to look for signs of fraud. Barclays bank, from the UK has a what to look for page where you can identify a skimmer. If you know what you are looking for, or the signs a skimmer is installed, it is easy to see.


7 posted on 05/10/2005 10:15:22 PM PDT by oilfieldtrash
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TFine80

Sshhhh,

remember, we should not speak badly about that...uh....
"religion of peace"


8 posted on 05/10/2005 10:16:49 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ArmyBratproud
You forgot- Kerry and Kennedy in unison: "Barney, that's not the gear shift."
9 posted on 05/10/2005 10:18:35 PM PDT by Stonedog (I don't know what your problem is, but I bet it's difficult to pronounce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ArmyBratproud

Yeah, that's right. Say it's a religion of peace ... or else.


10 posted on 05/10/2005 10:20:41 PM PDT by TFine80
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson