News

Skimmers charged with stealing $17,700 using Dunkin' Donuts gift cards at ATM

August 1, 2011

The New York Daily News reports that two Romanian ATM skimmers, who entered the U.S. earlier this year on journalist visas, used Dunkin' Donuts gift cards to skim thousands out of a Queens, New York ATM.

Daniel Gheorghe and Ionel Cristian Popa, both 33, were arrested in March at a Chase bank branch with $17,700, mostly in $20 bills.

The duo were arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty to grand larceny and fraud. Each are being held on $150,000 bail.

The pair allegedly coded the blank gift cards with account information lifted using a skimming device.

"Instead of going on a run for coffee and doughnuts with their gift cards, the defendants are instead accused of going to the bank and using its ATMs as their personal slot machines," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

The defendants face seven years in prison if convicted.

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