Slidell Police and the U.S. Secret Service arrested a New Orleans man for identity theft, according to police.

Investigators said Quentin Hall used phony credit cards in an unusually sophisticated operation.

WWL-TV

Hall, according to Slidell Police, made credit cards that looked legit, making cards where the information in the front didn’t match the magnetic strip on the back of the card.

“It’s believed at this time, what he was doing was making the cards himself,” Slidell Police Chief Freddy Drennan said.

Slidell Police arrested Hall, 22, New Orleans, on identity theft charges.  He was bonded out of jail.

“Mr. Hall, he has, I will say, he has a history of being involved in identity theft and credit card fraud,” Agent Darin Lake from the U.S. Secret Service said.  “These cards are probably typical of the involvement that he had.”

Police said that Hall used his homemade cards at a Wal-Mart in Slidell.  One of the cards was identified as stolen, and security cameras identified Hall on videotape.

When he came back later in the day, police said, Wal-Mart security saw Hall and called Slidell Police. When he was arrested, police found 29 cards and $10,000 worth of electronics believed to be purchased with homemade cards.

Agent Lake said that nationwide this kind of identity theft is common; it happens all over the country, but in Slidell, Chief Drennan said it was the first case he’s seen with a high level of sophistication.

"This was new to me, in our area,” said Chief Drennan. “But obviously, Mr. Lake being on the Federal side, where they deal with stuff nationwide, you know, they're seeing this in other areas.  Obviously, if it's going on in San Francisco, it's eventually going to make it here.”      

Investigators said that the magnetic strips were reprogrammed, but that Hall could have obtained the information in a variety of ways.

The U.S. Secret Service had advice so others don’t fall prey to credit card scammers.

“Just be vigilant,” Lake said.  “Be aware that this happens; it happens a lot. Unfortunately, with the growth of technology, it makes this easier for us, and unfortunately, it makes things easier for the criminals nowadays.”

The U.S. Secret Service said that Hall was convicted of identity theft before in Texas, and he is wanted for questioning in other identity theft cases in the New Orleans area as well.