Four scammers have been accused of stealing at least $38,000 from Walmart shoppers in Pennsylvania by allegedly using skimmers placed at self-checkout terminals.
Erie Police Department Detective James Baker told the Erie Times-News on May 5 that eighty people in 2024 and 2025 had reported at least $38,000 missing from a Walmart in Erie, Pennsylvania. The money was stolen primarily through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards by skimmers placed at point-of-sale terminals. The schemer was discovered in December 2024 and April 2025.
The Erie Police Department identified four people and charged them with the scam. Baker said three men were arrested in September 2025 in Orchard Park, New York, and a fourth suspect is possibly in the Chicago area.
Those facing charges are Remus Rosu, 30, and Luisa Unguru, 25, in connection with the skimming device found in December 2024. Facing charges in connection with the device found in April 2025, Unguru, Constantin P. Giurebe, age not listed, and Cosmin El Cretu, 28. Each suspect is facing misdemeanor counts of using a device to obtain encoded information and accessing a device fraudulently. Unlawful instruments, receiving stolen property and theft.
Police were able to identify the suspects through store video footage, which showed that on at least one occasion, the suspects had removed a red security bar from the self-checkout terminal, which notifies employees if the system has been tampered with.
Skimming scams are on the rise
The recent scandals in Pennsylvania are not the only ones of their kind. In February, a Baltimore man was arrested for installing card skimmers at several 7-Eleven locations in Maryland. Then, in March, a man and woman were arrested for installing skimming devices at several stores in the Mobile metro area in Alabama, including Family Dollar.
Analytics company FICO found that skimming scams increased 90% in 2025, with more than 3,500 financial institutions facing skimming-related compromises last year.
How do card skimmers work?
Card skimmers capture a user’s card data and record PIN entries. This information can be used to create counterfeit payment cards for unauthorized purchases.
The FBI states on its website that typically, card skimmers are attached to the internal wiring of the card reader and are not visible to the user. Some skimmer devices fit over the terminal’s card reader.
The FBI says EBT cards are targeted because they do not contain microchips. Embedded microchips secure customer payments better than a traditional magnetic stripe.
How to Beware of Skimming Scams
The FBI offers the following tips to protect against skimming scams:
- Inspect the card reader and do not use it if one is loose, bent, damaged, or scratched.
- Pull up the edges of the keypad before entering the PIN and cover the keypad as completely as possible to prevent hidden cameras from recording the entry.
- Be especially wary of skimmer devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
- When possible, use cards with microchip technology.
- Regularly monitor bank accounts for any potential fraudulent activity.
- Always use a strong pin. Avoid PINs that can be easily guessed, such as a string of identical consecutive numbers.
If you suspect that your card has been compromised, contact your financial institution immediately.