LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Five foreign nationals illegally in the U.S. have been arrested for their involvement in a large-scale card skimming operation that targeted individuals receiving CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits. Federal investigators revealed that the group had installed skimming devices on point-of-sale machines like credit card readers and ATMs, which allowed them to clone EBT cards and steal funds from the accounts.
$127 Million Stolen From EBT Cards
The criminal organization’s actions led to a significant loss of funds, with an investigation by the California Department of Social Services revealing that nearly $127 million was stolen from EBT cards in 2024 alone. These benefits are vital for lower-income families, and authorities say the suspects targeted the most vulnerable members of the community.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Operation
A multi-agency law enforcement operation took place on February 2, during which 70 officers conducted surveillance across Los Angeles to identify the suspects making multiple cash withdrawals from ATMs using cloned EBT cards. The suspects were caught withdrawing funds they were not entitled to, and arrests were made following the surveillance operation.
The Arrested Suspects
The five suspects arrested in connection with the operation include three Romanian nationals and two French nationals. They are all charged with unauthorized access devices and possessing stolen EBT card data. The following individuals were taken into custody:
Marcel Musat (53, Romania) – Arrested with 45 cloned cards.
Ionut Calciu (31, Romania) – Arrested with 10 counterfeit EBT cards.
Florian Serban (51, Romania) – Arrested with 58 re-encoded EBT cards.
Wesley David Adrian Dimoua-Moua (36, France) – Arrested with 11 counterfeit EBT cards.
Hichem Mohamed El Mabrouk (35, France) – Arrested with 37 re-encoded EBT cards.
The group had withdrawn over $25,500 in just one day.
Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating that the suspects targeted some of the poorest members of society, stealing from individuals who depend on government assistance to meet their basic needs. This fraudulent activity undermines a critical support system for struggling families.
Legal Proceedings and Future Actions
Three of the suspects are currently being held without bail, with court appearances scheduled between February 5 and March 11. Authorities continue to investigate and seek additional information about any other potential victims or fraud schemes linked to the operation.
Skimming Fraud and EBT Cards
This case is a stark reminder of the card skimming threats that can affect various financial systems, including EBT cards used for government assistance. The operation not only caused significant financial damage but also jeopardized the trust people place in the system designed to help them. Authorities are urging the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity related to their EBT or bank cards.
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects are facing serious charges as authorities continue to crack down on such fraud operations.
