07-02-2025
EBT card cloning in Kern County on the rise as Romanian gangs hit ATMs nationwide
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — EBT card cloning has been a major problem for years and more than $6.8 million in benefits were stolen 2024 alone in Kern County. Only $15 thousand were recovered.
In the county, 19,374 people receive benefits from the CalWORKs program, better known as cash aid, and 69,447 get CalFresh, better known as Food Stamps.
Combined, there are 88,821 recipients, but that may include some who receive benefits from both.
In 2024 alone the Department of Human Services received 10,039 reports of stolen added up to $6,832,990 dollars in stolen benefits.
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The thefts come as the United States is flooded with reports of organized Romanian gangs hitting ATM's from coast to coast.
Human Services reported receiving about 22,000 reports of stolen benefits in 2023 and the District Attorney's office says it is prosecuting only two cases of that 22-thousand.
One of those is the case of 22-year-old Fernando Stantu, a Romanian allegedly busted with that $15,702, 48 cloned cards and a skimming device.
Stantu's case is similar to that of 34-year-old Norbert Karaba, also from Romania.
He was arrested at a southwest Bakersfield bank while allegedly withdrawing money from an ATM.
He was found with 78 cloned EBT cards and over $63,000 in cash.
The cash came from ATM withdrawals using the cloned cards, one right after another, 75 withdrawals total all between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Jan. 2.
Both Romanian men said they're transients, but the District Attorney's office refused to confirm if the two men were working together.
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Both men are out on bail.
Those aren't the only two ATM cases involving Romanian nationals.
In March 2023, two Romanians were arrested for allegedly placing a skimmer on a terminal in Arvin.
They were charged with felonies, but then failed to appear in court and warrants have been issued for their arrests.
Although the District Attorney's Office issued a release on January about the arrest of Karaba, the scope of the thefts was not disclosed to the public until KGET began getting calls Monday from concerned crime victims.
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