FBI Seeks Silviu-Florin Spiridon in $220,000 EBT Skimming Scheme
Fugitive Wanted for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft After More Than 300 Benefits Accounts Were Targeted
Silviu-Florin Spiridon is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on federal charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a large-scale electronic benefits transfer skimming operation in California. Federal authorities say Spiridon and other members of the group installed electronic skimming equipment on point-of-sale terminals to capture information belonging to government benefits recipients. During the operation, more than $220,000 in EBT disbursements were requested from more than 300 victims' accounts.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Spiridon on April 19, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana. He remains listed among the FBI's Most Wanted white-collar crime fugitives and was last seen in Southern California. The FBI's Los Angeles Field Office is responsible for his wanted notice and continues to seek information that could lead authorities to his location.
Targeting Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards
Electronic benefits transfer cards, commonly known as EBT cards, allow recipients to electronically access government benefits and function similarly to conventional debit cards. The operation connected to Spiridon targeted those cards by compromising the machines that recipients used to make legitimate transactions. Instead of physically stealing a victim's card, those involved could secretly capture the information necessary to access the account.
Federal authorities say Spiridon and the other subjects made and installed electronic skimming devices capable of recording, storing, or transmitting information. Some of the equipment was small enough to be concealed inside standalone point-of-sale terminals, leaving customers unable to see that a machine had been compromised. ATMs, gas station payment terminals, and other card-reading equipment can be targeted with devices designed to intercept information when a card is swiped.
A customer could therefore complete an ordinary transaction and leave with the original EBT card without realizing anything had happened. The legitimate terminal could continue operating while the hidden skimming equipment captured information from the card. That stolen information could later be retrieved or transmitted and used to conduct transactions without the account holder's authorization.
Hidden Cameras Recorded PIN Numbers
Card information alone was not the only data targeted in the operation. Federal investigators say very small cameras were attached to point-of-sale terminals to record customers entering their personal identification numbers on PIN pads. Capturing both the card information and PIN could provide those operating the scheme with the information necessary to access victims' accounts.
The cameras were small enough to operate without attracting the attention of customers using the compromised terminals. A victim could swipe an EBT card, enter a PIN, complete a transaction, and leave without knowing that the information had been recorded. The victim's physical card remained in their possession, making the theft considerably less obvious than a conventional stolen-wallet or stolen-card crime.
Information obtained through the skimming equipment could then be used alone or with another access device to make unauthorized charges or withdraw money. The account holder did not need to be present when those subsequent transactions occurred. Victims might only become aware of the theft when reviewing their accounts or attempting to use benefits that had already been removed.
More Than 300 Victims' Accounts Targeted
Federal authorities say Spiridon and the other subjects requested disbursements totaling more than $220,000 from more than 300 victims' EBT accounts. The number of affected accounts demonstrates the potential scale of an electronic skimming operation when compromised terminals are used by numerous customers. One hidden device can potentially capture information belonging to multiple people before it is discovered.
The victims in this case were recipients of government benefits, meaning the targeted money was intended to provide financial assistance to qualifying individuals and families. EBT funds can be relied upon for food and other essential expenses, making unauthorized withdrawals particularly damaging to people with limited financial resources. A victim may discover the theft only when attempting to purchase necessities and finding that expected benefits are no longer available.
The operation also demonstrates how financial crimes can be committed without ever taking possession of the victim's original card. By copying the information stored on the card and recording the PIN, criminals can create the ability to access an account elsewhere. This allows unauthorized transactions to occur at different times and potentially at locations far removed from the compromised terminal.
Four Men Sought in Connection With the Scheme
Spiridon is wanted alongside Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu, Birdal Osman, and Bogdan Adrian Purgariu in connection with the EBT skimming operation. The FBI has issued individual wanted notices for all four men and says each was last seen in Southern California. They are accused of participating in the same broader scheme involving compromised point-of-sale terminals and government benefits accounts.
When the FBI publicly announced the investigation in July 2023, authorities were searching for five fugitives connected to the ATM and EBT theft network. The fifth individual was known at the time by the alias "Walerian Grabowski." Two additional defendants, Ionut Dragos Munteanu, also known as "Nicolay Kalinowski," and Claudiu Mezinu, had already been arrested and were awaiting trial.
The number of people identified during the investigation demonstrates the organized nature of the operation described by federal authorities. Installing skimming equipment, collecting captured information, obtaining PIN numbers, accessing accounts, and moving stolen funds can involve multiple participants performing different roles. Investigators therefore focused on identifying the individuals connected to both the equipment and the financial transactions that followed.
An ATM and EBT Skimming Theft Network
The FBI described the broader operation as an ATM skimming theft network targeting debit cards issued to government aid beneficiaries. Investigators worked to connect compromised terminals with unauthorized withdrawals and the people believed to be responsible for installing or using the electronic equipment. The investigation involved the FBI and partner law-enforcement agencies throughout Southern California.
Among the agencies involved were the San Diego County Bureau of Public Assistance Investigations and the Irvine Police Department. The FBI's Orange County Financial Crimes Working Group also participated, bringing together investigators with experience in financial crimes and benefits fraud. The United States Attorney's Office in Los Angeles was responsible for prosecuting the federal case.
Cases involving skimming networks can require investigators to analyze physical devices, surveillance footage, transaction histories, account records, and the locations where stolen card information was later used. Investigators can then compare that information across multiple incidents to determine whether apparently separate thefts are connected. In a case involving hundreds of accounts, identifying those patterns becomes particularly important.
California Faced Millions in EBT Theft
The federal investigation involving Spiridon occurred against the backdrop of much larger EBT theft losses across California. When announcing the fugitive search in July 2023, the FBI cited California Department of Social Services estimates showing $75,398,202 in losses involving CalWORKs cash benefits since September 2021. CalFresh losses during the same period were estimated at approximately $23.38 million.
Those figures represented broader statewide losses and were not limited to the specific $220,000 operation connected to Spiridon and the other defendants. They nevertheless demonstrate the enormous scale of benefits theft confronting California authorities at the time of the investigation. Combined, the figures cited by the FBI approached $100 million in losses involving two major public assistance programs.
The size of the statewide losses also explains why federal and local agencies have focused significant resources on identifying skimming networks. Benefits fraud affects not only government programs but also individual recipients who may suddenly lose access to essential assistance. Detecting compromised terminals and identifying the people installing the equipment can prevent additional victims from having their information stolen.
How Skimming Devices Stay Hidden
Modern skimming equipment can be difficult for an ordinary customer to recognize. Devices can be concealed inside legitimate machines or designed to resemble components already attached to a payment terminal. The equipment described in the Spiridon investigation was capable of being installed inside standalone terminals where it could remain outside the customer's view.
Once installed, the equipment could intercept information as cards were used normally. Depending on the device, captured information could be stored internally for later retrieval or transmitted to another location. This reduces the need for someone involved in the operation to remain physically near the compromised machine while victims use it.
The use of miniature cameras added another layer to the scheme by providing access to PIN numbers. Even if a skimming device successfully captured card information, an account protected by a PIN could require that additional security code before money could be withdrawn. Recording the keypad allowed the group to overcome that protection without victims knowingly revealing their PINs.
Who Is Silviu-Florin Spiridon?
Silviu-Florin Spiridon was born on March 29, 1991. The FBI describes him as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 136 pounds. Federal authorities have released several photographs of Spiridon to assist members of the public and law-enforcement agencies in identifying him.
The FBI lists "Milan Rasek" and "Teofil Nowicki" as aliases associated with Spiridon. Those alternate identities may be particularly important in a fugitive investigation because someone who has encountered him may know him by a different name and be unaware of the outstanding federal warrant. Providing the aliases alongside current photographs gives investigators another opportunity to generate information about his location.
Spiridon was last seen in Southern California, although the FBI does not publicly identify a specific current address or city for him. He continues to appear in the FBI's current national white-collar crime wanted listings. Anyone who recognizes Spiridon or one of his aliases should provide the information directly to law enforcement.
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
On April 19, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Silviu-Florin Spiridon by the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana. He was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the EBT skimming investigation. The warrant remains active while federal authorities continue attempting to locate him.
The federal charges connect Spiridon to an operation involving more than 300 benefits accounts and requests for more than $220,000 in EBT funds. Investigators say the scheme used concealed electronic equipment and cameras to obtain card information and PIN numbers without victims' knowledge. That information could subsequently be used to access accounts without the victim's consent or possession of the original card.
Spiridon remains a fugitive while the criminal charges are pending. His FBI wanted notice continues to identify the Los Angeles Field Office as responsible for the case and Southern California as his last known area. The bureau continues to make his photographs, aliases, physical description, and wanted poster available to assist with locating him.
Protecting Benefits Recipients From Skimming
The investigation highlights the importance of recognizing possible signs that a payment terminal has been tampered with. Components that appear loose, unusually bulky, misaligned, or different from nearby machines can potentially indicate that unauthorized equipment has been attached. Customers can also cover the keypad with their free hand while entering a PIN, which can make it more difficult for a hidden camera to capture the number.
Regularly checking account balances and transaction histories can also help cardholders identify unauthorized activity quickly. Because victims of skimming usually retain possession of their original cards, they cannot rely on a missing card as an indication that an account has been compromised. Unexpected transactions or withdrawals may be the first visible evidence that information was stolen.
The Spiridon investigation demonstrates how sophisticated skimming operations can target people during otherwise routine transactions. More than 300 victims' accounts were connected to the scheme, while the broader statewide losses reported by California authorities reached tens of millions of dollars. Preventing this type of crime requires cooperation between benefits agencies, financial institutions, law enforcement, merchants, and the people using the cards.
Spiridon Remains Wanted
Silviu-Florin Spiridon remains wanted by the FBI on federal charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. His arrest warrant has been outstanding since April 19, 2023, and the FBI states that he was last seen in Southern California. He remains listed among the bureau's Most Wanted white-collar crime fugitives as federal authorities continue searching for information concerning his whereabouts.
Anyone with information concerning Spiridon should contact the FBI or another appropriate law-enforcement agency. Individuals outside the United States can contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, and information can also be submitted through the FBI's official tip system. Members of the public should not attempt to confront, follow, detain, or apprehend a wanted individual.
Sources
FBI — Silviu-Florin Spiridon Official Wanted Profile
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wcc/silviu-florin-spiridon/
FBI — EBT Skimming Fugitive Investigation
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/losangeles/news/five-men-wanted-for-stealing-from-the-debit-cards-of-government-aid-beneficiaries-sought-for-their-roles-in-an-atm-skimming-theft-network
