TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — A major scam involving ATM card skimmers has affected over 900 people in the area, according to the Taylorsville Police Department. The scam, one of the largest the department has dealt with since its inception in 2021, primarily targeted ATMs at 7-Eleven convenience stores.
Authorities were alerted to the fraud after a noticeable uptick in reported ATM fraud cases. “Our fraud investigators noticed an increase in reports from members about ATM fraud,” said Amanda Morton, Vice President of Relationship Development at Cyprus Credit Union. “This led them to begin reviewing ATM footage, which revealed a common suspect.”
On December 5, investigators notified police of the suspicious activity. Taylorsville detectives launched an investigation and quickly identified that the scammers had been using sophisticated skimming devices to steal card information from unsuspecting ATM users.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect, along with his parents, Florin Turtulea and Irina Donica. At their home, police recovered several skimming devices, SD cards containing stolen financial transactions, thousands of dollars in stolen goods, and over $40,000 in cash.
Police discovered that the suspects had carried out at least eight separate incidents in which they used the stolen card information to withdraw $2,300 from ATMs in the Salt Lake Valley. The devices they used to skim card data allowed them to clone the information onto gift cards, which they then used to access funds or make purchases.
To protect yourself from similar fraud, experts recommend being vigilant when using ATMs. “Before inserting your card, do a quick assessment of the machine,” advises Morton. “Check if anything looks out of place, such as extra attachments or unusual colors on the plastic.”
Cheshire further added, “It’s important to regularly check your credit and debit card statements for unauthorized charges.”
Authorities are continuing their investigation, urging residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. With the arrests of the suspects and the recovery of stolen funds, Taylorsville Police are hopeful that this scam operation will be fully dismantled.