Two Romanian nationals, Cosmin Vaduva and Elena Caldarareasa, have been arrested and charged in connection with a credit-card skimming operation that targeted multiple stores in Jefferson Parish. Authorities allege that the pair planted skimming devices at various businesses before being apprehended during a traffic stop in Mississippi.
The Arrest and Discovery
On March 12, deputies from Grenada County, Mississippi, stopped a white Toyota Highlander with a Virginia license plate on Interstate 55. A search of the vehicle uncovered three overlay skimmers, numerous credit and gift cards, documents, and more than $8,000 in cash. The suspects were held in Grenada County pending extradition to Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, where they face charges.
The Skimming Operation
Investigators with the Jefferson Parish Economic Crimes Unit, working alongside the U.S. Secret Service, traced the skimming devices to Vaduva and Caldarareasa. Surveillance footage and court records suggest that Vaduva planted the skimmers on card readers, while Caldarareasa distracted cashiers to cover up the illegal activity.
The skimmers were recovered from several locations, including a convenience store on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, a store in Kenner, and a small grocery store near Lapalco Boulevard in unincorporated Gretna.
The Scheme and Charges
According to court documents, the suspects planned to harvest EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) data and re-encode it onto cloned cards. They face six counts of violating anti-skimming laws and six counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, with bail set at $240,000 for each. Federal prosecutors in Alabama later filed additional charges related to access-device fraud connected to the investigation.
Skimming Tactics and Broader Impact
The methods used in this case align with those of other transnational skimming operations, including the use of overlay skimmers, cloned magnetic-stripe data, and a two-person team to distract cashiers. Law enforcement officials say stolen SNAP/EBT and debit card data are often moved and cashed out across state lines, which is why federal, state, and local agencies often collaborate on such investigations.
Legal Status and Ongoing Investigation
Vaduva and Caldarareasa currently face parish-level anti-skimming and conspiracy counts in Jefferson Parish, along with additional federal charges. Their cases are in the early stages, with court dates pending. Authorities continue to review evidence and determine the next steps in the prosecution.
Advice for Affected Shoppers
Officials are advising shoppers who have used payment cards at the affected Jefferson Parish locations in recent weeks to review account statements carefully, report suspicious activity to their card issuers, and consider replacing affected cards.
Law enforcement and consumer-protection agencies recommend opting for chip or contactless payments whenever possible and reporting any suspected skimming devices to local authorities or the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
