Authorities in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, have arrested two Romanian nationals accused of using credit card skimmers to commit public benefits fraud across several states.
Cosmin Vaduva, 36, and Elena Caldarareasa, 32, were booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna on March 23, facing six charges each of violating anti-skimming laws and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to Sgt. Brandon Veal of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Skimmers Found in Several Jefferson Parish Locations
Authorities allege that Vaduva and Caldarareasa placed skimming devices on point-of-sale terminals at six businesses in Jefferson Parish during March.
These skimmers were used to steal credit card information from customers at local stores, including a convenience store on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, a grocery store near Lapalco Boulevard in unincorporated Gretna, and another convenience store in Kenner. The exact locations of all the skimmers are still under investigation.
Previous Fraud Activities in Alabama
Before being arrested in Jefferson Parish, the pair were extradited from Birmingham, Alabama, where they had been charged with access device fraud and conspiracy. Federal prosecutors filed charges against them on March 18 for placing skimmers in at least eight stores in Alabama. Investigators allege that Vaduva and Caldarareasa were targeting electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which are used for public assistance.
Their goal was to steal the identifying information from EBT cards, clone them onto new cards, and use those to make unauthorized purchases, court records show.
Rising Problem of EBT and Financial Fraud
Authorities have pointed out that identity theft targeting EBT and other food assistance cards has become more common, especially after banks introduced chip technology to secure credit and debit cards. Fraudsters now often target point-of-sale terminals in large stores like Walmart, Family Dollar, and Dollar General, as well as smaller local stores, to steal personal information.
The Role of Surveillance and Investigations
Surveillance footage reviewed by the Jefferson Parish Economic Crime Unit and the U.S. Secret Service shows Vaduva placing skimming devices on credit card readers while checking out at store registers. Meanwhile, Caldarareasa distracted cashiers by asking questions and even using her body to block Vaduva’s actions, making it easier for him to install the devices.
Arrest and Seizure in Mississippi
The investigation led detectives to identify a suspect vehicle linked to the crime, which was seen in surveillance videos from businesses. This information was shared with law enforcement in Mississippi and Alabama.
On March 12, Grenada County Sheriff’s deputies stopped the vehicle on Interstate 55 North and arrested the pair, based on warrants from Louisiana and Texas. Deputies found three overlay skimmers, $8,000 in cash, and several credit, debit, and gift cards in the vehicle, according to court records.
Charges and Bail
Vaduva and Caldarareasa are currently being held at the Gretna jail, with bail set at $240,000 each.
