Three Romanian Men Jailed in the UK After Police Discover How They Tricked Elderly People and Stole More Than £40,000 From Their Bank Accounts

Three Romanian men have been jailed for a total of more than 13 years after carrying out a cruel bank card scam that targeted elderly and vulnerable people across the UK. The gang tricked unsuspecting customers at cash machines, secretly swapped their bank cards and stole more than £40,000 from their accounts.

The three men, Ionut Matei, 40, Vasile Ciubotaru, 45, and Ramonel Mandache, 51, travelled around the country looking for people they could deceive. Their victims were mainly older people, including pensioners in their 70s and 80s, who were simply trying to withdraw money from their bank accounts.

The criminals used a simple but carefully planned trick to steal people’s bank cards without them noticing.

One member of the gang would approach someone using a cash machine inside a Halifax or Lloyds Bank branch. He would deliberately drop a banknote on the floor behind the customer before tapping them on the shoulder and asking whether they had dropped the money.

When the customer turned around to check, another gang member would quickly replace their bank card with a similar-looking card. The criminals had also watched the customer enter their PIN, allowing them to use the stolen card to withdraw money.

Many victims had no idea what had happened because they believed the card they received from the machine was their own.

After leaving the bank, the gang would use the stolen cards and PINs to withdraw cash and make purchases. Some victims lost hundreds of pounds, while others had thousands taken from their accounts.

Police said the gang carried out these crimes between October 2024 and August 2026, targeting people in Cheshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Kent.

One of the worst cases involved a victim who lost £11,100 over nearly two weeks before discovering that criminals had access to their bank account.

Other victims also suffered serious financial losses, with some losing money they had worked hard to save over many years.

The gang’s activities were eventually uncovered following a major police investigation known as Operation Rages, led by Cheshire Police.

Officers examined CCTV footage from different bank branches across the country. The recordings showed how the criminals worked together to distract customers and steal their cards.

Investigators also discovered that the men had been obtaining vehicles using false driving licences. Police believe this was an attempt to hide their identities and make it harder for officers to track their movements.

After months of investigations, Cheshire Police officers arrested all three men in Portsmouth on 18 August 2026.

When questioned by officers, the men refused to comment.

However, they later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

On Monday, 19 October, they appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, where they were sentenced to a combined total of 13 years and two months in prison.

Ionut Matei, 40, who had no fixed address, received the longest sentence of five years and six months. His sentence also covered knowingly entering the UK despite being subject to a deportation order.

Vasile Ciubotaru, 45, of Balfour Road in Ilford, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

Ramonel Mandache, 51, of Henniker Gardens in East Ham, London, was jailed for three years.

Detective Sergeant Stephanie Bland, who led the investigation, said the gang’s actions caused more than financial damage.

She explained that many victims had been left feeling frightened and less confident about using cash machines after discovering they had been tricked.

According to the detective, the criminals deliberately targeted elderly and vulnerable people because they believed they could easily take advantage of them.

She described the operation as a highly organised criminal enterprise that travelled across different parts of the country to steal money.

Police confirmed that the gang had targeted customers at several Halifax and Lloyds Bank branches, including locations in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Among the incidents investigated was a theft at a Halifax branch in Widnes on 10 October 2024, when £950 was stolen from a customer’s account.

On 8 November 2024, another victim lost £800 at a Lloyds Bank branch in Newcastle-under-Lyme, while £300 was taken from someone using a Halifax cash machine in Leek on the same day.

The gang continued its activities into 2026.

On 20 January, a victim at a Halifax branch in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, lost £4,163.

Two further incidents took place at the same branch on 5 March, with victims losing £800 and £700.

On 21 May, criminals stole £5,357 from a customer in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Another victim in Mansfield lost £4,751 on the same day.

Further thefts followed in Stockport, Mexborough, Bury, Widnes, Warrington and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

One of the largest losses was recorded in Bury, Greater Manchester, on 3 July 2026, when £11,100 was stolen from a victim’s account.

On 15 July, a customer in Widnes lost £3,100, while another victim in Warrington lost £3,990 the following day.

The gang also targeted a Lloyds Bank branch in Cannock, Staffordshire, on 14 July, although no money was stolen during that incident.

Their activities continued into August, when two victims in Mexborough, Doncaster, lost £700 and £750 respectively on the same day.

Detective Sergeant Bland said the investigation had been complicated because the crimes took place across several police force areas.

However, she explained that officers were determined to identify those responsible, even though many of the offences had happened outside Cheshire.

She said police forces would continue working together to tackle organised criminal groups and protect members of the public.

The detective also stressed that the consequences for victims could last long after the stolen money had gone.

For some elderly people, losing thousands of pounds can affect their financial security and their ability to trust others.

The case has also highlighted the importance of remaining alert when using cash machines, particularly if a stranger suddenly approaches or tries to start a conversation.

Police advise customers to cover the keypad when entering their PIN, avoid allowing strangers to distract them and check that the bank card returned by the machine is genuinely theirs.

Anyone who suspects their card has been swapped should contact their bank immediately so it can be blocked before criminals withdraw money.

Following the sentencing, Cheshire Police said they remained committed to disrupting organised crime and ensuring that people who target vulnerable members of the public are brought before the courts.

The three men will now serve prison sentences for their involvement in a scam that left numerous victims facing financial losses and emotional distress.