Two Irish citizens nabbed by Homeland Security in US after 'staggering' $300K ATM scam

Two Irish citizens are among six people who have been arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents after being charged with ATM fraud worth hundreds of thousands of dollars across the US.

Armando Ion Codreanu, 23, and Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 21 were charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft after an investigation by US Homeland Security into the scam that saw a gang install skimming devices on ATMs in six different states.

Armando Ion Codreanu is a citizen of Ireland who last entered the US illegally at an unknown place and time, while Nicolas Longin Codreanu is a citizen of Romania and Ireland who last entered the United States on or about October 10, 2017, and has since overstayed the conditions of his admission.

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The cops allege the gang got more than $300,000 (roughly €274,000) in the operation.

“The scale, scope, and brazen nature of these defendants’ scheme to steal the financial account information of unsuspecting consumers and use it to help themselves to funds and property, as we have alleged in federal court, is staggering,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A Cunha.

According to HSI, the conspiracy involved placing skimming devices on ATMs at banks across towns in Rhode Island.

The six individuals involved also allegedly placed skimming devices at retail store self-checkout terminals in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 

HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol alleged that the conspiracy defrauded thousands of New England residents by stealing credit card information.

"The complaint alleges these six individuals are members of an organization who defrauded thousands of residents of Rhode Island and beyond of their hard-earned money," Krol said in a statement.

"The ATM and point of sale skimming equipment they used worked quickly and efficiently to steal credit card information, allowing them to clone and illegally access credit cards, bank accounts, and other financial accounts of unsuspecting victims."