Prosecutors from Romania's Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) have dismantled a criminal group specialized in ATM skimming (using small devices to copy the data of cards used at ATMs).

The criminal group, which was made of 30 people, was operating in Romania, France, and Italy.

Pitesti DIICOT prosecutors carried out 20 house searches on Tuesday, September 6, in Bucharest and Arges, Valcea, Suceava, Gorj, Vaslui, Buzau, Teleorman, Botosani, Caras-Severin, and Calarasi counties. The searches were meant at dismantling an organized crime group specialized in forging electronic payment instruments, putting forged payment instruments into circulation, accessing computer systems illegally, conducting financial transactions fraudulently, and prostitution, reads a DIICOT statement.

The investigators believe that, starting 2013, criminal group members carried out skimming operations in Romania, France, and Italy, and forged electronic payment instruments which they used to withdraw cash or purchase of clothing and shoes from many companies in Italy.

Mihai Nazare is the name of the man believed to have been the group’s leader. Also known as “Mosu” (the old man), Nazare has influence and connections in major underworld groups.

Following the searches, the prosecutors found and seized three hard drives, five laptops, a tablet, 30 optical media, two memory sticks, 15 mobile phones, ten SIM cards, nine bank cards, plus RON 20,000 and EUR 4,100. The damage is this case is estimated at EUR 60,000.

The Italian judicial authorities have issued European arrest warrants for Mihai Nazare and six other members of the criminal group, according to DIICOT. The warrants are to be implemented by the competent judicial authorities.

Romanian crime ring leader gets ten-year jail sentence in the US

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com