This story has been updated with new information.

A ruse involving a claim of dropped cash helped a man and woman steal debit cards from dozens of shoppers across six states, including at a WinCo store in Springfield, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon.

Lucian Sulitanu and Rexona Caldararu, both Romanian citizens, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a court document filed Monday, Aug. 25.

Federal prosecutors on Sept. 3 terminated proceedings in the case for reasons that are unclear.

The pair, both in their 30s, are alleged to have worked as a team, with WinCo store surveillance video cited in the FBI affidavit as linking them to multiple thefts.

Most of the cases involved either the man or woman approaching people in parking lots to tell them they had dropped some money, often a $20 bill, according to the affidavit.

In Springfield, a man “reported an unknown female approached him in the parking lot about some dropped money,” states the affidavit by FBI Special Agent Derek Jensen.

The man dropped his wallet and cards spilled out, and “Caldararu helped [him] pick up his cards but likely kept his debit card,” the affidavit alleges, giving a date of Nov. 16, 2024 for the theft. 

The man learned from his bank of three fraudulent withdrawals totalling $10,000.

Thefts began with “observing unwitting victims enter PIN numbers during the checkout process at grocery stores,” then involved “using a ruse to contact the victims [and] pick-pocket techniques to steal debit cards,” the affidavit states.

Details are given for 14 debit card thefts, including three in Oregon City and one each in Beaverton and Gresham.

But the affidavit notes many other thefts, stating that investigators linked Sulitanu to “three unsuccessful attempts and 52 successful scams totalling $110,082.” Caldararu is alleged to have had “three unsuccessful attempts and 50 successful scams totalling $98,587.55.”

Thefts took place in Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia since April 2024, and a third person is also sought on suspicion of fraud and theft, according to the affidavit.