Romanian had fake cards and id

A Romanian conman who targeted luxury shops with fake identity documents and bank cards has been jailed for more than two years.

Alexandru Coibanu, 34, fleeced Harvey Nichols and fitting cashpoints with card reading devices known as ‘skimmers.’

Police raided his home in Hornchurch, Essex, last October and found a driving license and identity document in the name Claudio German.

Officers also caught him with an Italian ID card in the name of Alexandro Salari and a card skimming device protruding from his jacket pocket.

Coibanu attempted to splurge £1,340 in luxury department store Harvey Nichols with a counterfeit visa card on 22 December 2017.

But when Harvey Nichols staff pulled the holographic sticker off the card, Coibanu produced a second, attempting to complete the purchase.

He was detained by security staff after attempting to flee and reported to the police.

Coibanu received a 12-month conditional discharge for possessing those articles for use in fraud and making false representation.

But on 7 September 2018 the fraudster was again caught by the police in possession of a skimming device in his car

He was committed for sentence but went on the run for more than a year until he was arrested on 28 October 2019 in his flat where police found an identical device to that discovered in September 2018.

Judge Sarah Munro QC told Coibanu: ‘There can only be one reason for you having those items and that reason must be one of illegality.

‘You were clearly motivated by significant financial gain and there was some planning.

‘There is greater harm as the articles had the potential to affect large number of victims and significant sums and included potential third party identities.

‘You were arrested on 28th October 2019 following the execution by police of a search warrant.

‘When searching your room police found three false identity documents with your photograph but the details of different named males, dates of birth and nationalities.

‘You were searched in your pocket police found a skimming device for use in credit card fraud. There is no possible legitimate excuse for having such an item.

‘Aged 34 you have made two previous court appearances for identical offences to these.

‘You tried to buy goods worth more than £1,000 from Harvey Nicholls using a forged card. When challenged, you produced another counterfeit card.

‘You were challenged and caught as you tried to get away. In the interview you admitted to these offences.

‘On 7 September another offence of possession of skimming device for use in fraud committed on 30 July 2018 when you were caught in a car with the item and for breach of the conditional discharge you were committed to the Crown Court for sentence.’

Coibanu, of Maybank Avenue, Hornchurch admitted three counts of possession of articles for use in fraud and being in breach of his bail conditions.

The Romanian was sentenced to a total of 26 months