Investigators say debit card-cloning ring was operating on South … – The Patriot Ledger

Neal Simpson The Patriot Ledger @nsimpson_ledger

BOSTON - Federal investigators say a major debit card-cloning ring operating in eight U.S. states and three countries was able to steal thousands of dollars from people using ATMs on the South Shore before it was shut down earlier this year.

In a federal indictment unsealed last week, investigators said a group dubbed the Hornea Crew had used skimming devices installed at ATMs in Quincy, Braintree and Weymouth to get access to peoples accounts and fraudulently withdraw their money. Fourteen people linked to the operation have been indicted on charges including identity theft, money laundering and racketeering, and investigators say more people were involved, including minors.

In an affidavit filed with the indictment, investigators said the operation was run by two brothers, Constantin Denis Hornea and Ludemis Hornea, and included members of several other families, some of them linked by marriage. Investigators said the network had been active in states up and down the East Coast as well as in China and Romania.

Constantin Hornea and a woman believed to be his wife, Maria Lazar, were arrested in March after investigators said they used cloned debit cards to fraudulently withdraw money from several Bank of America ATMs, including at bank branches and vestibules in Hanover, Braintree and Weymouth. Investigators said the couple withdrew between $100 and $500 at a time.

At the time, investigators said they did not yet know who installed the devices that were used to produce the cloned cards, according to a complaint unsealed after the couples arrest. Investigators said the cards were produced with the use of two devices: A skimmer stalled in an ATM slot that reads the account numbers of cards inserted into it; and a camera that records ATM users entering their PIN numbers on the machines keypad. Investigators said one batch of cloned debit cards was made using skimmers installed at a Bank of America ATM at 1 Scammell St. in Quincy.

Hornea's alleged associates, including some charged with installing the skimmers and cameras, were indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston. The indictment was unsealed Thursday after his brother, Ludemis Hornea, was arrested.

In the indictment unsealed Thursday, investigators said the banks targeted by the group include Bank of America, Citizens Bank, First Citizens Bank, SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo. Investigators said fraudulent cards were used to withdraw money at ATMs across Massachusetts, including in Brockton, Hanover, Quincy, Rockland and Weymouth.

Constantin Hornea and Maria Lazar are due to be arraigned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston. They have been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since their arrest this spring.

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Investigators say debit card-cloning ring was operating on South ... - The Patriot Ledger