A Romanian citizen has been accused of stealing $9,700 from more than two dozen bank accounts by installing ATM skimming devices and hidden video cameras at two Suffolk County banks.
Suffolk County police said they had arrested Marian Serban in March when he was linked to devices that were found at the Astoria Federal Savings banks in Kings Park and Huntington Station.
Identity Theft Section detectives alleged that the 43-year-old used the devices to fraudulently withdraw funds from 25 accounts belonging to 13 different victims.
“Cloned” Debit Card Thefts New Fad Among Tech-savvy Thieves
ATM skimming devices allow scammers to copy the magnetic strips on debit and credit cards, which criminals can then use to create clones of the cards. The spy cams allow scammers to secure victims’ PINs so crooks can make withdrawals with the cloned cards.
Serban, who police said Serban has been known to stay at various hotels and has traveled to Miami and Las Vegas, was charged with grand larceny and identity theft. He will be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.
