Full Breakdown
Romanian Fraud Ring Jailed for £40,000 Elderly Bank-Card Scam
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Sentencing of Three Romanian Nationals for Nationwide Elder-Fraud
Three Romanian men—Ionut Matei (40), Vasile Ciubotaru (45) and Ramonel Mandache (51)—were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. Matei received five years six months, Ciubotaru four years eight months and Mandache three years. The court heard they targeted elderly pensioners at Halifax and Lloyds Bank cash-point machines, stealing bank cards, observing PINs and draining accounts to fund gambling addictions. The fraud operation, investigated as Operation Rages by Cheshire Police, resulted in the dishonest acquisition of £40,241.99 from 18 victims across England between October 2024 and August 2026.
Background & Context
Operation Rages uncovered a coordinated “distraction-technique” in which one offender placed a banknote on the floor to draw an elderly customer’s attention, another watched the victim’s PIN entry, and a third swapped the card for a look-alike. Stolen cards were used immediately at ATMs or for purchases, sometimes over several days before victims noticed the loss. Victims ranged from a 70-year-old woman in Widnes (loss £930) to a 78-year-old Bury resident who lost more than £11,000 after a fortnight of unnoticed withdrawals. Lloyds Bank later reimbursed all affected customers. Police also discovered the trio used false driving licences to obtain vehicles, a tactic intended to conceal their movements.
Data & Statistics
- Total stolen: £40,241.99
- Victims: 18 elderly individuals (ages 70-88)
- Losses per victim: £800 – £11,100
- Sentences: 5 y 6 m (Matei), 4 y 8 m (Ciubotaru), 3 y (Mandache)
- Additional seizure: £665 cash recovered on August 18
- Uncharged accomplices: a fourth defendant (surname Achivi) who missed court on September 21 after leaving the country by ferry on August 30, and an unnamed fifth suspect.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All of the defendants are Romanian nationals by birth and were involved in a well-organised and professional operation around the country,” — Charles Lander
- “Like all the other victims, he describes the worry and stress that the loss of such a large amount of money caused him,” — Mr Lander
Timeline
- October 10 2024 – First recorded incident: a 70-year-old woman in Widnes targeted.
- July 3 – A 78-year-old Bury woman loses over £11,000.
- July 16 – CCTV in Widnes captures theft of an 81-year-old woman’s card.
- August 18 – Police intelligence locates the trio in Portsmouth; £665 seized.
- August 30 – Defendant Achivi departs the UK by ferry.
- September 21 – Achivi fails to appear in court.
- March 15 (scheduled) – Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to determine repayment of ill-gotten gains.
What’s Next
The trio will appear before a magistrates’ court on March 15 for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, where the amount, if any, that they must repay will be assessed. Police continue to search for the remaining unnamed accomplice.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the total amount stolen is consistently reported as £40,241.99, the exact number of undiscovered victims remains unclear. Additionally, two alleged accomplices have not been apprehended, leaving the full scope of the criminal network unresolved.