Six Individuals Indicted for ATM Skimming Scheme in St. Louis Area
ST. LOUIS, MO – Six people have been indicted on federal charges for their roles in an ATM skimming conspiracy that targeted St. Louis-area ATMs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced the indictment today, which accuses the individuals of installing skimming devices on ATMs to steal bank account data and PINs from unsuspecting customers.
The indicted individuals include:
Laurentiu Miguel Ivan, 33
Venera Isabelle Dumitru, 28
Mihai Florin Marinescu, 37
Ianus Nita, 52
Mihai Vlaicu, 47
Nelu Nae, 36 (charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud)
The indictment, filed on August 7, alleges that the group worked together to install skimming devices on ATMs to capture sensitive information, which they then used to defraud financial institutions. The scheme allowed them to clone ATM cards and withdraw funds from victims’ accounts.
Key Events in the Scheme:
In April, Dumitru, Vlaicu, and Ivan used cloned cards to attempt cash withdrawals at various St. Louis locations.
In May, Marinescu attempted to install a skimming device on an ATM in south St. Louis County, while Nae retrieved the device the following day. Later that month, Marinescu successfully installed a skimming device at an ATM in Wildwood.
On May 11, Nita used the stolen account information to attempt cash withdrawals from a St. Louis County ATM.
On May 28, Marinescu and Nae installed another skimming device on an ATM in St. Louis, but law enforcement intervened before Nita and Vlaicu could retrieve it.
The FBI St. Louis Division has issued a warning about the growing problem of ATM skimming, noting that devices can be difficult to detect because some skimmers are hidden within the ATM itself, making it nearly impossible for victims to know their information has been compromised.
Special Agent in Charge, Ashley T. Johnson, emphasized that customers can protect themselves by avoiding inserting their cards into ATMs that appear tampered with. She also suggested going inside the bank or store to withdraw money or make payments in person.
The charges include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The individuals face significant federal penalties if convicted.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks of ATM fraud and the importance of remaining vigilant when accessing financial services.
