The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
ATM fraudster who vanished found after international hunt
COURT: Romanian man brought back to Scotland to face charges
A member of a sophisticated fraud gang who stuck an iPad to a cashpoint to film bank customers’ PIN details was caught by police after an international manhunt.
Alexandru Bizau used the device and a card reader at an ATM in Blairgowrie.
He was tracked down by police four years ago, shortly after the device was recovered and was due to go on trial alongside two other suspected gang members.
But the Romanian vanished before the hearing could begin and Police Scotland issued a European warrant for his arrest.
He was eventually found serving time in an Irish prison. Authorities agreed to bring him back to Scotland to face fraud charges when he completed his sentence.
The 33-year-old appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted 10 criminal charges.
Sheriff William Wood heard how Bizau went on a spending spree with stolen cards in Auchterarder and Arbroath.
Depute fiscal John Malpass said the iPad was found by a customer at the ATM beside the Co-op store on Perth Street, Blairgowrie, in July 2013.
He said: “A witness informed the shop manager. The iPad, which was used to record video, and the card reader, were later linked to Mr Bizau following a forensic examination.”
The court heard that days later, Bizau stole a bank card from the same ATM. He then used it to withdraw £500 and buy more than £600 worth of goods from wine specialist Ellie’s Cellar.
Mr Malpass said that weeks later an ATM at Arbroath was “compromised” and a card was taken. “Later, this card was used to obtain £700 in cash from an ATM at the nearby Co-op,” he said.
The court heard that days later Bizau used another stolen card to withdraw £100 from the Clydesdale Bank in Auchterarder, before buying £1,065 worth of goods. He was caught on CCTV at each location, seen acting with others.
Sheriff Wood told Bizau: “This was a sophisticated operation which was carried out over a number of months.”
Bizau, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, will be sentenced on Wednesday December 13.
“This was a sophisticated operation which was carried out over a number of months. SHERIFF WOOD