U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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March 10, 2006 ROMANIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED FOR INTERNET FRAUD Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of FLORIN GHIOC, age 34, who was residing at 6104 North Seeley Avenue in Chicago. GHIOC was arrested late yesterday afternoon, without incident, by FBI Special Agents at his Chicago residence. GHIOC was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District in Chicago with defrauding dozens of individuals out of over $125,000 in an internet fraud scheme that he operated for nearly two years. According to the complaint, GHIOC would use multiple false identities to advertise non-existent items for sale over the internet. He would receive payment from legitimate buyers via Western Union money transfers and then fail to deliver the advertised items. GHIOC appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan R. Nolan, yesterday afternoon, at which time he was ordered held without bond pending his next scheduled court appearance. If convicted of the charges filed against him, GHIOC faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years incarceration. In announcing this arrest, Mr Grant again warned internet users to be cautious when making purchases on-line. "It is important for consumers to know with whom they are dealing, " said Mr. Grant. "By conducting business only with legitimate sellers, your chances of becoming a victim to a similar scheme are greatly reduced." Consumers who believe they are victims of an internet fraud or would like to learn more about internet safety are encouraged to visit the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) at www.ic3.gov. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against GHIOC is available
from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.
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