Romania targets fraud involving US banks

BUCHAREST: Prosecutors are cracking down on Romanians who allegedly stole money from Americans by cloning the websites of US banks.

Organized crime prosecutors in Romania say 25 people are being questioned and more than 30 houses searched on Monday in an operation launched with information provided by the US Secret Service at the US Embassy in Bucharest.

The prosecutors say the $1 million Internet fraud operation cloned websites of banks such as the Bank of America to con users into submitting private information.

The suspects then allegedly made fraudulent online transfers of funds to Romania, which they cashed at Western Union branches.