Credit card scheme charged

Thursday, May 7, 1998 | 10:13 a.m.

A high-tech, high-dollar credit card scam has resulted in the federal indictment of a man who had been befriended by a security officer from a credit card processing company.

Khalid Michel Benamar was indicted on 68 felony charges Wednesday, although it could have been worse.

The fraud indictment alleges he possessed 671 stolen credit cards or credit card numbers although only 67 resulted in charges of illicit use. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Sullivan said the investigation showed $671,000 had been funneled from the stolen card accounts into another bank.

Sullivan said a "point of sale terminal," like the machines in stores and restaurants that electronically process credit card bills, was being used for the illicit transactions that were conducted from a room at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

Benamar was arrested by the Secret Service on April 21 from information provided by the security officer for First Data Resources, who had infiltrated the credit card operation.

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