18 International Hackers who Steal Tens of Millions of Dollars Arrested For ATM Skimming Attack

U.S law enforcement agencies arrested 18 International Fraud members who were allegedly committed with the various cyber crimes and stolen tens of millions of dollars from financial institutions and individual victims.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney from Newyork unsealing of indictments against the 18 members who have committed with a variety of crimes, including access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

These hackers were involved with wide-ranging international ATM skimming and money laundering operation and have stolen more than $20 Million through hundreds of ATM skimming operations across the U.S including 17 different states.

Defendant	Age	Place of Residence	Nationality
FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN,a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,”a/k/a “Johnny Ion,”a/k/a “Jane Hotul,”a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,”a/k/a “Petru Andrioane,”	44	Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	Romania
ALEX DONATI	51	Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	Romania
RAUL IONUT VIDRASAN,a/k/a “Michu,” a/k/a “The Boy”	27	Perugia, Italy	Romania
MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Sobo”	44	Cooper City, Florida	Romania
NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, a/k/a “Nicu Limberto”	53	Deer Park, New York	Greece
CRISTIAN COSTEA, a/k/a “Momo”	44	Queens, New York	Romania
ALIN HANES CALUGARU	39	Sunny Isles, Florida	Romania
IONELA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Pitica”	35	Cooper City, Florida	Romania
THEOFRASTOS LYMBERATOS	36	Queens, New York	United States
ANDREW ELIOPOULOS	34	Queens, New York	United States
VALENTIN PETRESCU, a/k/a “Gico Cosmin Giscan,” a/k/a “Zoltan Pruma”	32	Russellville, Arkansas	Romania
PETER SAMOLIS	30	Queens, New York	United States
KELLY KARKI LAM	42	New York, New York	United States
GEORGE SERBAN	32	Miami, Florida	Romania
DRAGOS DIACONU	41	Nashville, Tennessee	Romania
MADLIN ALEXANDRU ANCA, a/k/a “Mateo Fernandez Alejandro”	22	Nashville, Tennessee	Romania
CRISTIAN ULMANU, a/k/a “Boris Moravec”	54	Russellville, Arkansas	Romania
IULIANA MIHAILESCU	42	Queens, New York	Romania

They were installing the skimming devices on ATMs, removing those devices, and cashing out large numbers of fraudulent debit cards manufactured and the defendants worked directly in this skimming attack.

Skimming devices and component parts were imported from different countries and deployed in ATMs to record the debit card numbers and personal identification numbers when the victims enter their details, and then used those cards to fraudulently withdraw cash from victims’ bank accounts.

“Other defendants assisted in engineering the skimming devices that the Skimming Organization used.  Still, other defendants laundered the proceeds of the skimming attacks through bank accounts, properties, businesses, and the transportation of bulk cash.”

According to Department of Justice ” if they found guilty then Each defendant will be charged with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 ½ years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed.  “

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The NYPD and its law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that leverage attacks against our cyberinfrastructure.  We comprehensively confront everything from highly-sophisticated transnational groups, like this one, to those criminals who exploit our citizens with cyber-enabled scams.

All the members were arrested with the help of FBI, CBP, and the NYPD,  INTERPOL-Rome, INTERPOL-Mexico City.

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