Ealing Man Had 39 Fake Bank Cards

Vasile Pit jailed for 18 months for fraud

A fraudster who was found in possession of 39 fake bank cards has been jailed, after plain clothes British Transport Police (BTP) officers caught him at a tube station.

Vasile Pit, aged 26, of Greenford Road, Ealing, appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court on Thursday, 15 August.

Vasile Pit

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing an article for use in fraud.

The court heard around 12.30pm on Thursday, 30 May two plain clothes BTP officers were patrolling Oxford Circus station and saw Pit talking to another man who handed over a large amount of cash.

The officers followed Pit to Piccadilly Circus where he was stopped and found in possession of 39 fake bank cards.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Jon Butterwick, of the Organised and Financial Crime Unit, said: “The magnetic strip on the fake cards had been re-encoded with compromised bank account details from around the world, including accounts in the Middle East, South America and the UK.

“Around £950 was stolen from the accounts, but thanks to the quick actions of the patrolling officers at Oxford Circus the fraudulent cards were seized.

“Pit's prison sentence shows just how seriously card fraud is treated by BTP and the courts.”

DC Butterwick added: “A few simple precautions can help protect you from this type of crime. Remember to check cash and ticket machines for anything unusual, always shield your PIN with your other hand when typing and don't use an ATM when people are loitering.”

Tips for preventing theft of cash or credit card details:

• Never write down or disclose your personal PIN number to anyone
• Check the cash machine for anything unusual
• Shield your PIN with your other hand when typing
• Don't use an ATM when people are loitering

August 20, 2013