Two employees of a Chisinau restaurant will stand trial because they copied data from clients’ bank cards without the knowledge of these and used them for different online transactions. An investigation into this case was launched following notifications from banks whose clients complained about the disappearance of money from their checking accounts.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, during 2014 the culprits, who worked as a barman and a waiter, used data from the cards of at least eight clients of the restaurant for own purposes. The damage caused was estimated at 38,000 lei.

The 28-year-old waiter and the barmen of 18 are from Chisinau. They are investigated outside prison for illegally obtaining and revealing information that represents bank secret and for computer fraud attempt.

Statistics show that the number of thefts through bank cards in Moldova is much lower than in other countries, but prosecutors urge vigilance, warning that the online transactions must be performed in the presence of the card holder.