A Romanian national is in federal custody after authorities allege he and a criminal network stole nearly $160,000 from public assistance recipients across California — including dozens of San Diego County residents — by planting card skimmers at retail point-of-sale terminals.
Razvan Balu faces federal charges for his alleged role in a card-skimming operation that deployed devices at terminals in San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties. Investigators say the network cloned stolen EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) and CalWORKS account data onto blank cards, then used them at ATMs primarily in the Los Angeles area.
According to a federal criminal complaint, ATM surveillance footage captured Balu accessing 35 EBT accounts at a single Culver City ATM in one visit, withdrawing $30,700 in public assistance funds. Just 90 minutes later, he used card numbers belonging to 23 San Diego County residents to withdraw an additional $11,390 at a different ATM. The following day, he returned and withdrew another $23,540 from 28 additional accounts. Over approximately one month, Balu withdrew a total of $86,080 using cloned cards.
Authorities say at least 43 EBT accounts were compromised in San Diego County during January 2026 alone, and investigators believe additional victims have yet to be identified. Balu was apprehended March 1 near one of the ATMs in Culver City. Officers found large stacks of cash, approximately 35 cloned EBT cards, and a fake Washington state driver's license bearing the name "Hans Wagner."
The arrest is the latest action by the Southern California Cyber Fraud Task Force, a joint state and federal law enforcement operation targeting card skimming and identity theft. Since March 2023, the task force has arrested 36 Romanian nationals in Southern California on similar charges. San Diego County residents who use EBT or CalWORKS benefits and believe their accounts may have been compromised are urged to contact their county social services agency or call the California Department of Social Services fraud hotline immediately.