Daniel Munteanu, Bank Fraud, Washington 2013

A Romanian man has pleaded guilty to bank fraud in a brazen scheme to scam participants in online auctions, causing over $120,000 in losses.

Daniel Munteanu, 29, was arrested on May 1, 2013, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Amsterdam. Munteanu used phony passports to establish bank accounts and mail box rentals in Seattle while in the city.

Munteanu and his co-conspirators scammed various participants in eBay auctions by posing as sellers and seeking to negotiate the sale of items the victims had bid on. Victims were tricked into sending payments to accounts opened in false names by Munteanu, which were then quickly moved offshore to co-conspirators in Romania.

The scheme left five victims with losses totaling over $120,000. 'This type of fraud erodes trust and undermines legitimate online commerce,' said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. 'We will track down and prosecute scam artists.'

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Vaughan.

Munteanu is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Martinez on October 24, 2013, and faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for bank fraud. The defendant used phony passports to commit the crime in Seattle, Washington, in April 2013.

Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The victims of the scheme were left with significant financial losses, and it highlights the importance of being cautious when participating in online auctions.

HSI Special Agent Brad Bench added, 'The vast majority of online auctions are legitimate, which leaves consumers who've had positive online buying experiences with a false sense of security.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/romanian-man-pleads-guilty-line-auction-fraud