Latvian Illegals Nabbed in $14M Texas Gift Card Scam – RedState
It seems that the United States has become an equal opportunity target for all kinds of scammers, fraudsters, and illegal alien thieves. We’ve seen an avalanche of reports about the Somali “refugee” community in Minneapolis, as well as consistent alleged fraud cases elsewhere. But lest we place all the blame on Somali communities, we should, in fairness, note that the latest such scam against American businesses by illegal aliens comes to us from Texas, and that the accused goblins are believed to be illegal aliens from Latvia. They are accused of participating in a multi-million dollar gift card fraud scheme.
Three illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe have been arrested in Texas for their alleged involvement in a multi-state $14 million gift card fraud scheme.
Kristians Petroviskis, Romunds Cubrevics and Nurmunds Ulevicus were arrested by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC), Fox Austin reported.
The men, all Latvian citizens, told investigators they had stolen gift cards from about 10 stores every day, seven days a week, since May, the outlet reported.
They visit 10 stores a day, seven days a week? Imagine if they had turned that level of dedication into a job.
Here’s how the system worked:
“The card is removed and then the material on the back that hides the numbers to transfer anything or activate the card is then removed so they can see it,” FCIC Director Adam Colby said. “The numbers that appear on the card are then programmed into another program used by the criminals, which will now monitor that card.”
Colby said all three suspects were in the United States illegally.
Once the numbers on the cards were programmed into another, the cards were reassembled to look new, without scratches, and put back on store shelves so someone could buy them.
“As soon as it is activated and money is placed on that card, criminals are now aware of it, but now they have the ability to move the money from that card to another card where it is then cashed out or used to purchase high-end merchandise,” Colby said.
Mr. Colby also noted that all three were in the United States illegally, although he did not describe how or when they entered the country. We know they were charged with first degree fraudulent possession of gift cards. It is unclear from the information posted here whether Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) received a referral for all three.
Learn more: Fraud in Somali daycare centers: scamming taxpayers since 2015 (at least)
Watch: DHS and ICE investigators go door-to-door to crack down on suspected Minneapolis fraudsters
Makes you wonder if anyone is handing out maps in other parts of the world, like Somalia, Latvia, and other such places, with the United States, on this map, bearing a big legend: “HERE ARE SUCKERS.” Certainly, as someone once pointed out, if you want to steal, you go where the money is, and the United States is exactly such a place. Additionally, for four years before President Trump took over the presidency in January, the United States was lured by waves of people showing up at our borders, claiming to be “refugees” and being allowed in without questions.
Today we have millions of frauds in Texas, maybe billions in Minnesota, and who knows how many elsewhere?
And it’s all thanks to the Biden administration.
Tip: If you buy a gift card, buy it online and not at the local pharmacy.
Editor’s note: We voted for mass deportations, not mass amnesty. Help us continue to fight against those who try to go against the will of the American people.
Join RedState VIP today and use promo code HAPPY74 to receive 74% off your membership.
