Romanian gang jailed for cash machine card-swap fraud on pensioners

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Three Romanian men have been jailed for stealing more than £40,000 from pensioners in a nationwide crime spree. The gang targeted cash machines at Halifax and Lloyds Bank branches across Cheshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Kent between October 2024 and August 2026.

Their scheme involved a coordinated distraction technique. One member would position himself close enough to observe victims entering their PIN. As the customer completed their transaction, another gang member would deliberately drop a banknote on the floor and draw the victim's attention to it. While the pensioner was distracted, a third accomplice would swap their genuine bank card for a similar-looking fake one.

The victims left the bank unaware they had been scammed, with their accounts then vulnerable to fraud. One victim lost £11,100 before realising what had happened. Ionut Matei, 40, of no fixed abode, received five years and six months; Vasile Ciubotaru, 45, of Ilford, four years and eight months; and Ramonel Mandache, 51, of East Ham, three years. Matei was separately sentenced for breaching a deportation order.

How it is being reported

• Romanian crime gang targeted pensioners using cruel cash machine distraction scamA Romanian crime gang has been jailed after targeting pensioners with a cruel cash machine distraction scam. Operation Rages, a nationwide crackdown on theft and fraud, identified numerous offences committed between October 2024 and August 2026, Cheshire Constabulary said. More than £40,000 was stolen from victims across Cheshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Kent over the period. Now, three men, all Romanian nationals, have been sentenced for the widespread theft. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Ionut Matei, 40, of no fixed abode, was jailed for…GB News · 23 Oct, 05:10
• Moment Romanian gang use cruel cash machine trick on pensioners in crime spree that netted £40,000CCTV footage shows the brazen crooks distracting elderly victims by dropping banknotes on the floor before secretly swapping their bank cards for fake ones.Daily Mail · 22 Oct, 18:01

In this story: Ionut Matei · Vasile Ciubotaru · Ramonel Mandache · Halifax · Lloyds Bank · Cheshire Constabulary

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