Police: Crooks Stole $30,000 By Cloning Credit Cards

A sweeping high-tech credit card fraud ring is victimizing dozens of banks, cities and people in northeast Ohio, NewsChannel5 reported.

Authorities said the crooks are cloning credit cards and stealing thousands of dollars. They do it by obtaining working credit card numbers, stamping out duplicate cards and then taking out huge cash advances.

Police said two men shown on a bank surveillance camera ripped off nearly $3,000 from National City Bank using fake IDs.

The high-tech part of the crime is actually duplicating credit cards, even cloning the magnetic strip on the back, police said.

In a three-day period last week, the fraud team hit banks in Beachwood, Strongsville, Shaker Heights, Mayfield Heights and University Circle.

The crooks made off with an estimated $30,000.

Bank security and police passed the surveillance photos around and finally caught up with 31-year-old Larry Colbert.

Police said Colbert came to Cleveland from Tennessee to conduct his credit card crimes. Investigators are now trying to find a man and a woman they believe are his partners in crime.

Colbert is facing a host of charges, including fraud and theft.