The FBI is asking for the public's help in finding three men wanted in a South Florida ATM skimming scam that swiped information from hundreds of bank customers.
A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Neamtu Vaduva, 23, Alin Velcu, 24, and Antonio Dumitru, 19, for their alleged participation in the scam, the FBI said Wednesday.
All three were last known to stay at various residences in Broward County, the FBI said.
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Vaduva, Velcu and Dumitru, along with three other men, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the FBI said.
According to authorities, the group placed small portable card-reading devices, known as skimming devices, over or inside the card slot of ATM machines, as well as a camera.
The devices read and stored the information given by bank customers while the cameras captured them entering their PIN numbers, authorities said.
The group then used the information to create counterfeit ATM cards to make unauthorized withdrawals, authorities said.
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Authorities say the group placed the skimmers at 18 bank branches, resulting in the theft of information from at least 407 customers.
According to the federal criminal complaint, Vaduva was caught red-handed at a Fort Lauderdale bank on Feb. 17. Broward Sheriff's Office deputies doing surveillance observed the 23-year-old removing a skimming device from the card reader at the door of the bank.
Vaduva was arrested and charged with defrauding a financial institution and fraud, among many charges, authorities said. The BSO has confirmed there was an immigration hold on him. But days after the arrest, on Feb. 21, the federal arrest warrant was issued for him. He is considered a fugitive by the FBI.
The other three defendants, Aris Chiciu, 23, Eugen Bacelan, 29, and Maurizio Margel, 19, were arrested and made their first court appearance Friday. It was unknown whether they have attorneys.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the FBI in Miami at 305-944-9101.
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