CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) — According to an affidavit, a man was arrested in Charlotte on April 24 after being accused of stealing tens of thousands of credit/debit cards at different Walmart locations in the northeast.
Romario Serban, the suspect, had a criminal complaint filed against him on April 10, alleging he “participated in a fraudulent credit card skimming scheme involving 19 Walmart stores, primarily located in New York.” Charges against Serban include:
- Trafficking in or use of unauthorized access devices
- Conspiracy to traffic in or use unauthorized access devices
- Possession of 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices
- Conspiracy to possess 15 or more counterfeit unauthorized or access devices
- Wire fraud
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
The affidavit states that between July 2, 2023, and July 8, 2023, Serban was accused of installing skimmer devices to steal customers’ card information at these locations.
According to Walmart Global Investigators, over 27,144 credit cards and 2,195 debit card numbers were compromised at the stores while the skimmers were active. Reports stated debit cards alone accounted for at least $10,000 in suspicious transactions.
Additional stores outside of New York included those in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.
The affidavit states Serban was likely in the country illegally.
“According to reports from United States Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”), the most recent travel information on Serban is that Serban left the United States in 2018 on a flight to Portugal; CBP believes that SERBAN most likely crossed back into the United States illegally.”
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