Romanian cashpoint skimmers are jailed

TWO Romanians described as ‘footsoldiers’ in an organised crime gang were jailed on Tuesday at Inverness Sheriff Court for attempting to steal money from accounts of customers using auto tellers (ATMs) at Tesco’s supermarket at Inshes.

Florin Pop (27) and Alexandru Anton (22) described as prisoners in Inverness had travelled from London and fitted cameras on the bank tellers outside the store to obtain information which could be later used to clone cards and extract money from customers accounts.

Jailing both men for 2 years and 9 months Sheriff Margaret Neilson told Pop and Anton it was clear that the Highlands and Inverness particularly was being deliberately targeted and it was organised criminal activity they were involved in.

Pop and Anton pleaded guilty to being involved in the scheme on March 18 and 19 while acting with others to obtain money by the use of unauthorised information and attaching devices and cameras to the cash points at Tescos in Inshes to enable them to draw funds from accounts.

Fiscal Sharon Ralph said police officers in a marked vehicle acting on information went to the store and saw the men acting suspiciously. When the police walked towards the three cashpoints the men moved away.

She said officers found electronic devices and cameras attached to the autotellers.

"While officers were on their way to Inshes in another police vehicle they recognised a car which was linked to this incident. The vehicle was followed a and it appeared to be driven with some urgency," the fiscal added.

When it was stopped she said police found a card swiping device used for cloning and dummy cards.

The fiscal said it was the vigilant work of Northern Constabulary that brought the matter to a conclusion.

"It has to be said it’s believed it’s not Pop and Anton who organised this venture." She described them as merely footsoldiers in a large organised crime gang.

Representing Pop, Eilidh Macdonald said he had been in the UK since January of last year and had been offered £60 a day for his part in the operation. She said he was an educated man who had been working in the construction industry as a labourer.

"He will move on with his life in his own country when this is over."

Gary Miller, solicitor for Anton said the 22 year-old was a first offender who had lived in London with a Romanian girlfriend.

Mr Miller said he had phoned someone name Solomon to see if he could get some work for him and he was told by Solomon that he had a method how he could earn some money.

"He was given an address in Inverness and told exactly what he had to do. By this time Anton was shown how to install and detach these items and having gone this far he was in too deep and found Solomon a very intimidating individual."

Sentencing the pair Sheriff Margaret Neilson issued a warning to others thinking of coming to the Highlands to try and steal money from banks and there customers.

"These crimes are designed to attack the integrity of the banking system of this country. They are not victimless crimes and cause considerable disruption upset and anxiety to those individuals whose details are violated.

"It’s clear the Inverness area is being deliberately targeted and this is an organised criminal activity.

"As is always the case with organised crime whether its drugs or skimming bank cards those who are caught are never the masterminds behind the operation. They would not put themselves in that position.

"But organised crime relies on people like you who have been described as ‘footsoldiers’ in the operation. Without people like you becoming involved those at the top of the organisation would not be able to ply their trade and obtain significant wealth through illegal means."

The Sheriff referred to considerable press coverage in the local media of such criminal activity and warnings had been issued to the public to be aware when using cashpoint about the possibility of their details being obtained for illegal purposes.

"This court imposed a custodial sentence last year on another Romanian national based in London for a similar offence at another ATM in Inverness. There have again been numerous reports in the press in recent months of similar criminal activity being carried out. Clearly the sentence imposed in August last year has not deterred others from becoming involved.

"It seems reasonable to infer ATMs in this area are being targeted by organised crime. That is clearly a matter of major concern.

The Sheriff added: "I remain of the view a deterrent is required otherwise criminals such as yourselves will continue to travel to Highland towns and carry out similar offences.

"I hope this sentence will get through to others in your situation that this criminal activity will not be tolerated in Inverness."

As well as the jail sentence the Sheriff told both men would be deported at the end of their sentences and all the equipment would be confiscated.

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