A man aged 22 from Soroca town was arrested for stealing money from debit cards of persons who sold different goods online. He posed as a buyer and, on the pretext of making a transfer, obtained from sellers data for accessing bank accounts over the Internet or by a mobile application. The victims were defrauded of over 200,000 lei, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases said the young man identified Internet announcements of over 60 persons from Moldova who sold cars, cellphones, clothing articles and other goods. He showed interest in the goods, saying he can buy them by transferring money to the debit card only if the persons told him card data, including passwords for accessing bank accounts.

After the victims filed complaints, the police in Moldova put the man on the wanted list and the authorities in Spain localized him. The Moldovan authorities arrested and questioned him. On November 16, the case was sent to court. The young man faces five to ten years in jail.