Three Romanian Nationals Arrested During ATM Skimmer Investigation in DFW Area
AUSTIN – Three Romanian nationals were arrested on June 14, 2024, for engaging in organized criminal activity and unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications (TX PC 16.02) following an investigation led by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (TX FCIC).
The suspects are accused of placing credit card skimmers on automated teller machines (ATM) in the Dallas and Tarrant County areas and are also suspects in several skimmer investigations spanning multiple states.
The suspects are alleged to have used a combination of deep-insert skimmer devices to collect information off magnetic strips on credit/debit cards, as well as pinhole cameras that capture personal identification numbers (PIN) when entered into the keypad of an ATM. The information captured by these deep-insert skimmers can be used to create hundreds of cloned debit or credit cards, ultimately stealing money out of the victims’ bank accounts.
The FCIC investigation recovered 26 deep-insert skimmer devices and enough parts to complete 13 additional deep-insert skimmer devices.
The three arrested were:
- Mihai Florin Marienscu (DOB: 06/08/1987)
- Nelu Nae (DOB: 12/27/1987)
- Mihai Vlaicu, aka Tibor Biro (DOB: 1/17/1977)
TX FCIC special agents were assisted by multiple investigators, including St. Louis Metropolitan (MO) District 2 Detectives, Euless (TX) Police Department Economic Crimes Unit, Dallas (TX) Police Department North Central Patrol Division CRT, Colleyville (TX) Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the United States Secret Service, as well as asset protection investigators from several retail partners.
About TX FCIC
The TX FCIC, which coordinates law enforcement investigations into organized financial fraud, officially opened in Tyler in January 2022. The center – the first of its kind in the United States – was created by House Bill 2106 in the 87th Texas Legislature and operates as a partnership between the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
