News

2 men arrested in ATM skimming scam may be part of Vegas crime ring

November 10, 2003

TRUCKEE, Nev. - Truckee police arrested a man in an ATM skimming scheme. Valentin Ruducan, 31, was booked into the Nevada County Jail on charges of burglary, possession of stolen property and fraudulent use of a credit card, according to a report in the Sierra Sun.

Ruducan's nationality is being investigated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, police said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations has joined the Truckee Police Department in investigating the case.

On Nov. 5 around 6 p.m., Truckee police officers were advised of two suspects in a silver van acting suspicious near a U.S. Bank branch. Officer Jason Paletta searched the area and found a suspect wearing dark clothing, later identified as Valentin Ruducan, talking to another male subject on a two-way radio.

A silver van was parked across the street from the bank parking lot with the motor running. Ruducan told police that the van belonged to a friend that he was with, but did not provide any further information about the friend. No one was in or around the van; however, officers noticed a new coffee maker in the van as well as a laptop computer and a suitcase.

Further investigation determined that Ruducan had purchased more than $1,100 worth of coffee equipment from Starbucks using two different credit cards that were reported to have been either lost or stolen in North Lake Tahoe earlier in the day, police said.

When he was arrested, Ruducan had three credit cards in his possession that had been reported lost or stolen.

While checking the van, Sgt. Tim Hargrove noticed a video grabber device on the dashboard that was attached to the laptop.

Hargrove then checked the area around the U.S. Bank ATM and discovered a piece of gray metal with a small pinhole in it attached to the ATM. The metal piece appeared to be part of the original ATM, but closer inspection revealed it to be a pinhole-lens camera.

Police believe the camera was broadcasting PINs of potential victims to the laptop, according to the Sierra Sun report.

Investigators are still seeking another man linked to the scheme who is believed to have fled to Reno in a taxi. The silver van was rented in Las Vegas.

According to Truckee police, the FBI has said that the two men involved in the scheme are part of a group of criminals operating out of Las Vegas who are responsible for more than $1 billion worth of losses.