Crime & Safety

Another Suspect Admits to ATM Skimming Scam in Cos Cob

Romanian nationals charged by feds for snagging PIN info and pilfering bank accounts.

Another Romanian citizen has pleaded guilty in connection with an ATM skimming scheme that involved the use of ATMs of in Cos Cob.

Connecticut United States Attorney David B. Fein announced that Nadia Pasici, 49, who lived in Middle Village, NY, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The charge stems from Pasici’s participation in an ATM “skimming” scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Pasici and others conspired to install “skimming” devices on automated teller machines (“ATMs”), and on card swipe access devices used by banks to control access to ATM lobby doors, at People’s United Bank locations in Connecticut.  he devices were able to capture the information encoded on the magnetic strips of bank cards used by ATM customers. The co-conspirators also are accused of placing devices on the ATMs that contained hidden pinhole cameras, which were positioned in such a way as to be able to record the personal identification numbers that bank customers keyed into the ATMs to gain access to their accounts. The co-conspirators then used this stolen information to create counterfeit bank cards that allowed them to withdraw funds from the customers’ accounts.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In March and April 2010, Pasici and a co-conspirator used a pin-capturing device at an ATM located at a branch of in Cos Cob. Then, between April 19 and April 22, other conspirators, include Sabrina Matache, used stolen bank account information to conduct unauthorized ATM withdrawals from People’s United Bank ATMs in Stamford and Darien.

On April 22, 2010, Pasici, Matache and another alleged co-conspirator were arrested by members of the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force at a branch of People’s United Bank in Darien. The defendants possessed approximately $2,000 cash, handwritten notes with addresses of People’s United Bank locations, ATM skimming tools and other items used in the conspiracy.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pasici is to be sentenced June 24, and faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a $1 million fine.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.