SEVEN PEOPLE were arrested on a two-day period for welfare fraud (Shutterstock).

Seven people – including an 18-year-old man – have been arrested over a two-day period for fraud in the use of Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and other offenses.

The Garden Grove Police Department, working with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the San Bernardino County Social Services Special Investigation Unit and “other allied agency investigators” have worked together to target fraud from transnational criminal organizations specializing in welfare benefit fraud, according to authorities.

Andrei Nicolae, 18, was arrested on Thursday on a warrant issued by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Six others were arrested on charges of organized retail theft, fraud and theft of government benefits.

Two of those arrested had “numerous” out-of-state extraditable felony warrants and are believed to be involved in local residential burglaries.

Another person was found to be in possession of $5000 in stolen retail property.