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Four individuals have been charged in connection with a scheme involving skimming devices placed on Walmart self-checkout kiosks in Erie, Pennsylvania, resulting in the theft of at least $38,000 from customers.
According to Detective James Becker of the Erie Police Department, the fraudulent activity took place at a Walmart location in Erie during 2024 and 2025. Authorities were alerted after reports from approximately 80 victims who noticed unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts.
The perpetrators installed card skimmers on point-of-sale terminals that processed Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. These devices captured card information and PINs, enabling the criminals to produce counterfeit cards and make unauthorized transactions. Investigators discovered skimming devices on two occasions: December 2024 and April 2025.
Law enforcement identified and charged four suspects. Three were apprehended in Orchard Park, New York, in September 2025, while the fourth individual is believed to be in the Chicago area.
Those facing charges include Remus Rosu, 30, Louisa Unguru, 25, Constantin P. Giurebe, and Cosmin L.
Cretu, 28. The accused face felony counts related to device fraud and unauthorized access, as well as misdemeanor charges including unlawful device possession, receiving stolen property, and theft.
Police review of surveillance footage revealed the suspects tampered with security features on the self-checkout terminals. In one instance, they removed a red security strip designed to alert staff of any interference.
This incident has coincided with Walmart’s decision to reduce the number of self-checkout stations at various stores amid a rise in theft. For example, the retailer quietly removed self-checkout machines from a South Philadelphia Supercenter in March, aiming to enhance customer service and reduce losses.
Similarly, after Walmart eliminated self-checkout kiosks at a store in Shrewsbury, Missouri, in 2024, local police reported a significant decrease in theft-related calls and arrests. Shrewsbury Police Chief Lisa Vargas noted that prior to the removal, it was common for customers to bypass scanning items.
Between January and May 2024, the Shrewsbury Police Department responded to 509 calls related to Walmart. In the same period in 2025, that number dropped to 183, reflecting the positive impact of reverting to traditional cashier-staffed lanes.