Courts / Dublin / Report

Romanian gang made fake cards after 'deep skim' of bank customers

Date
2021-01-13

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Temple Bar

County
Dublin

Summary

Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang, Daniel Almajanu (35) and Albert Gimy Linul (29), were found to have made and used fake credit cards in Dublin following a "deep" skimming operation in the UK. Almajanu used a card reader/writer machine to create 65 fake cards, which he handed to Linul. Linul used these cards to purchase cartons of cigarettes from several newsagents in Dublin, which were then sold for profit. Garda Ciaran Ronan reported that Linul stole £1,185 from the UK bank. Linul pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing 60 fraudulent bank cards, eight counts of using a fake HSBC card, ten counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft from HSBC between November 2019 and February 2020. Almajanu pleaded guilty to two counts of custody of 53 fake cards and one count of making 65 fake cards, plus possession of a laptop designed for card fabrication.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Romanian gang made fake cards after 'deep skim' of bank customers. Charges or matters: three counts of possessing a total of 60 fraudulent bank cards at various locations in Dublin between February 13 and February 14 this year; eight counts of using a fake HSBC bank card at a number of Dublin shops, ten counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft from HSBC on dates between November 1, 2019 and February 4, 2020; two counts of having custody of 53 fake bank cards and one count of making 65 fake bank cards at various locations in Dublin between January 1 and February 13 this year; one count of possessing a laptop specifically designed to make false cards. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

February 13 Incident
February 14 Incident
November 1, 2019 Other
February 4, 2020 Other
January 1 Incident
February 3 Adjournment
2021-01-13 Publication

Case subjects

Albert Gimy Linul

Defendant

Charges: three counts of possessing a total of 60 fraudulent bank cards at various locations in Dublin between February 13 and February 14 this year; eight counts of using a fake HSBC bank card at a number of Dublin shops, ten counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft from HSBC on dates between November 1, 2019 and February 4, 2020; two counts of having custody of 53 fake bank cards and one count of making 65 fake bank cards at various locations in Dublin between January 1 and February 13 this year; one count of possessing a laptop specifically designed to make false cards (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to February 3 next.

Daniel Almajanu

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to February 3 next.