PLANO — What began as a strange incident at a Plano ATM led to the capture of an international fugitive and brought attention to a little-known scam called “cash trapping.”
Ionut Aurel Iova, a Romanian national, is now in federal custody after being arrested last week in the Houston area, according to the Plano Police Department. The case started when Plano resident Jonathan Hogue went to withdraw money from his local ATM and was left confused after his $700 transaction didn’t go through.
“It looks just like a part of the ATM,” Hogue said, showing a picture he took of the machine. “I thought it was just a door that was going to pop up and give me the money.” But when his withdrawal failed, he had no idea he had fallen victim to a fraud scheme.
Ray McCormick had a similar experience. After attempting to withdraw $100, his cash didn’t appear either. Both residents were unaware they had been targeted by a scam called “cash trapping.”
Here’s how it works: Criminals install a long device over the ATM’s cash dispenser using double-sided tape or a similar adhesive. The device is designed to catch the cash after the customer makes a withdrawal, leaving the victim unaware that their money has been stolen. The thief waits until the customer leaves and then removes the device, collecting the cash for themselves.
Plano Police Officer Jerry Minton, who worked on the case, said, “The devices fit perfectly over the dispenser mechanism of the ATM. It’s attached by a double-sided tape or similar substance, and the perpetrator uses a handmade tool to remove it.”
“I hadn’t heard of cash trapping before,” Minton added. “I was doing forgery investigations for 32 years, and this is a new one for us.”
The thefts involving Hogue and McCormick took place in July at a Bank of America ATM located near Parker and Preston roads in Plano. Police believe Iova, the suspect, was likely lurking nearby and would take the device off the ATM once the victim left.
The case grew larger when Hogue reported the incident, encouraged by his boss to file a police report. His quick action led to a multi-agency investigation and ultimately the capture of Iova and two accomplices. Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers arrested Iova and the two men during a traffic stop on August 20.
Iova, who had been living in the Houston area, is wanted by Hungarian authorities for drug offenses and is also facing banking-related charges in Maryland. Furthermore, he has 56 theft and fraud warrants out of Canada.
Texas authorities worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security to capture Iova, who is currently being held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe.
“I’m ecstatic he was caught,” said Hogue. “This guy doesn’t deserve to be walking around on the streets. I’m glad I was able to file the police report and get the ball rolling.”
McCormick, another victim, emphasized the importance of reporting suspicious activity: “If something seems off, report it. I’ll certainly be more aware from now on.”
The arrest serves as a reminder for all bank customers to remain vigilant while using ATMs, especially for less-known scams like cash trapping.
