The person at the center of this case
Over 300 victims of EBT card fraud
Cold Case · Open
3 years waiting · since 2023
ILIE-SEBASTIAN-LAUR VASILESCU
Justice for Over 300 victims of EBT card fraud — the trail went cold in 2023, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1What is the current status of the skimming devices and how many were successfully recovered or documented by investigators?
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suspect
Lead #2Where is Vasilescu believed to be hiding, and has he maintained contact with any known associates since the warrant was issued?
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clue
Lead #3How were the victims' accounts identified and notified, and what recovery efforts have been made for the $220,000 in stolen EBT funds?
Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu is wanted for his alleged role in a sophisticated EBT card fraud scheme that victimized over 300 people across California, stealing more than $220,000 in federal benefits through skimming devices and hidden cameras installed at point-of-sale terminals. The scheme involved installing small devices inside ATMs and gas pumps to intercept card data and PIN numbers, then using that information to drain victims' accounts without their knowledge. Vasilescu remains at large and was last seen in Southern California, making him a priority for federal law enforcement.
Case
#756
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court, Central District of California
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4What is the current status of the other three co-conspirators: Birdal Osman, Silviu-Florin Spiridon, and Bogdan Adrian Purgariu?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Bank Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft Caution: Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu, Birdal Osman , Silviu-Florin Spiridon , and Bogdan Adrian Purgariu are being sought for their alleged roles in a scheme to defraud the recipients of a federal benefits program by installing skimming devices on various points of sale terminals in California in order to unlawfully access the funds in the victims’ electronic benefits transfer or “EBT” card, which works like a debit card. Vasilescu and the other subjects allegedly made and installed skimming devices, often small in size, with the capability to record, store or transmit data.
Some of these devices could be installed inside standalone point of sale terminals (a gas station pump or ATM, for example) - out of view of customers - and were designed to intercept data from access devices that were swiped. A very small camera was also attached to point of sale terminals to record customers entering their PIN numbers on the PIN pad.
The information recovered from or transmitted by a skimming device could then be used alone or in conjunction with another access device to incur charges or withdraw funds from a victim’s account without the victim’s consent, knowledge, or authorization. During the course of the scheme, it is alleged that Vasilescu and the other subjects requested disbursements totaling more than $220,000 in EBT funds from more than 300 victims' accounts.
On April 19, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, after he was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Remarks: Vasilescu was last seen in Southern California.
Timeline of Events
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2023-04-19
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Ilie-Sebastian-Laur Vasilescu in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, after he was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:April 19, 2023
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 19, 2023
Last Updated:October 29, 2026