Romanian Gang Busted for Over 3,300 ATM Frauds in Nationwide Scam
A slick international police operation has smashed a ruthless Romanian criminal gang behind thousands of ATM scams across the UK. Nine men are now behind bars, serving a combined sentence exceeding 25 years.
11 Months, 3,300+ ATM Frauds Exposed
The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit joined forces with Romanian cops to take down the notorious ring. Over 11 months in 2024, the gang pulled off more than 3,300 fraudulent cash withdrawals from 50+ ATMs nationwide.
Detective Inspector Dan Barker revealed the investigation involved “extensive work both here and overseas” to track the criminals and their hi-tech gear.
Arrests at Luton Airport After Lengthy Sting
The operation culminated in December 2024 with multiple arrests at Luton Airport as the gang attempted to escape. Earlier raids in Romania unearthed 18 luxury properties filled with flashy Lamborghinis, Porsches, and even a swimming pool tagged with anti-police graffiti.
The crew ran a temporary base in Luton while maintaining strong links back home. They used cutting-edge chipboard hacking devices to crack ATM security. Police also seized a Chinese-made cash machine, suspected to be for future frauds.
Heavy Sentences Pour Down on Crime Kingpins
- Ionut Pogar, 32: 3 years and 1 month for fraud and money laundering.
- Silviu Alistar, 32: 2 years and 3 months.
- Top sentence: Alex Munteanu, 38, locked up for 4 years and 6 months.
- Other key gangsters sentenced between 18 months and 4 years 4 months.
All nine convicts face likely deportation once they serve their time.
Detective Inspector Barker said: “These crimes were persistent, coordinated, and carried out on an almost industrial scale, showing just how far these criminals went to dodge justice.”
