Baytown, Texas – Recent arrests shed light on a credit card skimming operation targeting multiple ATMs in Baytown. Two individuals, 25-year-old Perla Miclescu and 20-year-old Rafael Rafaila, were apprehended by Baytown police in connection with the scam.

The Arrests and Charges

Court records reveal that Miclescu and Rafaila were found with sophisticated skimming equipment, including a ‘deep insert skimmer,’ ‘overlay pinhole cameras,’ and 24 re-encoded credit cards. Miclescu, a Romanian citizen, and Rafaila face charges related to fraud and credit card theft. Moreover, both individuals are subject to deportation proceedings.

Criminal Histories

Further investigation shows that both defendants have warrants for fraud-related offenses in various counties and states. Miclescu was previously indicted for robbery in Colorado County, Texas, in 2019, while Rafaila faces charges of unlawful possession of a card skimming device in Indiana.

Insights from Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center

Jeff Roberts, Captain of Internal Operations at the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, explains the modus operandi of such skimming operations. He highlights the use of ‘deep insert skimmers’ and concealed cameras to capture card information and PINs during transactions. Roberts suggests using tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay or Google Pay to mitigate the risk of card skimming.

Prevention Efforts

According to the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, 445 credit card skimmers have been recovered in the past two years, along with 5,574 fraudulent credit cards. These efforts have prevented an estimated $171,516,831 in monetary losses due to fraud in Texas.

Legal Proceedings

Both Miclescu and Rafaila are currently held in the Harris County jail on a $200,000 bond as they await further legal proceedings.

Safeguarding Your Finances

To protect yourself from credit card skimming and fraud:

• Utilize tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Regularly monitor your bank statements for any unauthorized transactions.
• Report any suspicious activity to your bank or local authorities immediately.

Download The Local News App

Stay informed about local news and security alerts by downloading The Local News App to your smartphone today. Stay vigilant and keep your financial information safe from cybercriminals.

Source