Moment Romanian gang use cruel cash machine trick on pensioners in crime spree that netted £40,000

Three men have been jailed after using a cash machine distraction to steal more than £40,000 from elderly customers across Britain. The gang watched victims enter their PINs, then distracted them by dropping a banknote and secretly exchanged their bank cards, leaving them exposed to withdrawals and purchases.

The offences took place between October 2024 and August 2026 at Halifax and Lloyds branches across several counties. One pensioner lost £11,100 over nearly two weeks; victims were often in their 70s and 80s. Ionut Matei received five years and six months, Vasile Ciubotaru four years and eight months, and Ramonel Mandache three years in prison after pleading guilty.