Credit Card Skimmer Found at LIRR Station; Suspect Has Ties to Identity Theft Ring: MTA

Authorities are looking for a 35-year-old Romanian national who police say has ties to an identity theft gang in California after they discovered a credit card scanning device inside a ticket machine at a Long Island Rail Road station.

The MTA identified the suspect as Vasile Ovidiu Haidau. Last week, an LIRR technician discovered a scanning device inside the card slot in a ticket machine at the station in Baldwin; a tiny camera positioned above the keyboard to videotape customers typing in their PINs was also found, the agency said. 

The MTA says authorities determined none of the information picked up by the devices had been downloaded, so they do not believe that any customers who used that machine had their credit or debit card information compromised. Still, the agency urges anyone to contact their financial institutions immediately if they find unfamiliar transactions on their bank or credit card statements. 

Authorities say Haidau was last seen Monday morning driving a 2014 Blue Volvo S80 west on Sunrise Highway in Baldwin. The rental car had the license plate number GXR5959. Detectives say he should be considered dangerous and anyone who spots him should call (516) 222-6501 or (718) 361-2201.

Similar devices were used to steal financial information from several LIRR customers at stations on the Port Washington line last year. A Queens couple pleaded guilty to conspiracy and larceny charges in that case last week.