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A WOMAN is behind bars after allegedly conning a 77-year-old woman out of nearly $800 at a Walmart checkout.
Alina Ciurar, 33, pulled off a scam by duping an elderly shopper into paying for her items at a Walmart checkout.
Police said Ciurar approached the 77-year-old woman at a self-checkout, rang up a mountain of merchandise, and tricked her into footing the bill, reported ABC local affiliate WSB-TV.
She falsely claimed she needed help purchasing baby supplies at the store in Snellville, located about 35 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Ciurar reportedly told the victim her total was just $40, then made a move by physically guiding the older woman’s arm to complete the payment at the self-checkout, while blocking her view with a hug, the outlet reported.
The arrest warrant viewed by WSB-TV stated Ciurar “physically grabbed the elderly victim’s arm and guided her credit card into the self-checkout register.”
The victim had no idea she’d been duped until she checked her bank statement and spotted a $760.62 charge.
Two days later, Ciurar allegedly went to another Walmart and received about $500 in cash after returning most of the items, police said.
Her scheme unraveled when the victim reported the charge, triggering a police investigation.
“The suspect basically told her, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ve deleted a bunch of these items, so it’s only $40,’” Detective Jeff Manley told WSB-TV.
Surveillance footage captured Ciurar in action, helping detectives pin her down.
Cops say she was later spotted in another store, approaching yet another senior citizen, just before being nabbed.
“She’s pretty smooth the way she does it, so she’s obviously got some experience,” said Detective Manley, hinting that Ciurar may have pulled similar scams across multiple states.
The Florida woman had active warrants in both Colorado and her home state, according to jail records, WSB-TV reported.
She now faces serious fraud and felony elder exploitation charges and potentially even more if investigators uncover additional victims.
Ciurar’s defense attorney is already angling for bond, arguing that she is a mother of three, including an 8-month-old baby.
Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers
Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.
- Locking items in cabinets.
- Security pegs.
- Security cameras.
- Signs warning about the impact of theft.
- Receipt scanners.
- Receipt checks.
- Carts with locking technology
Ciurar’s arrest has set off alarm bells among seniors, who are now pushing for tighter safeguards to protect vulnerable shoppers.
Authorities are urging customers, especially seniors, to be extra cautious at checkout and never to allow strangers to interfere with their transactions.
Police warn that scammers often use distraction tactics to manipulate victims, making it crucial to keep a close eye on the screen when making purchases.
Snellville police didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment by The U.S. Sun.
Theft has reportedly gotten so bad that Walmart launched yet another new anti-theft tool in November 2024.
The new system allows workers to use an app on a cellphone or other device to unlock anti-theft displays.
