News 12 at 6 o'clock, December 4, 2009

THOMSON, Ga.---Hundreds of people across the country may have had their credit card numbers stolen believed to be taken by people in McDuffie County, including Washington State police officers.

Investigators are calling it a credit card theft ring that spans across the country. Seven people are behind bars, all charged with financial fraud.

Investigators say it started in February, when thousands of dollars worth of stuff was bought illegally and now, after months of investigating, they believe the number of victims could be in the hundreds.

It's a piece of plastic with a lot of power and investigators in McDuffie County say when they find their way into the hands of criminals -- credit cards can be dangerous.

"I was just scared, it makes me just not even want to have no types of credit cards," says credit card holder Jaslin Rivers.

Investigators found thousands of dollars worth of stuff, like flat screen TV's, cell phones and other things had been purchased illegally.

"I mean how many times does it happen, it's not a fool proof scheme," adds Harris Richards.

Seven people are behind bars, accused of using a stolen credit card to order car parts. They were arrested at a Thomson store when they came to pick them up.

Lakita Sinkfield, Lindsey Roberts, and brother and sister Avery and Shontae Thomas are all from Thomson. The others, Shawana Walker, Keith Cummings, and Antonio Tanksley are from nearby.

"These are people you like see every day that you wouldn't think would do something like this, and i mean, it could be anybody," says Rivers.

Thomas and Walker are each charged with seven counts of transaction financial fraud and one count each of credit card theft. Right now the others are facing one count of fraud.

"The way the economy is people will do anything just to get a buck just to survive. I mean it's the survival of the fittest and people just get it any way that they can now a days even it means stealing or killing or anything," says Richards.

Investigators believe there are local victims but right now, they aren't sure how many it may be.

"It could happen to anybody," adds Rivers.

Investigators say about eighty credit card numbers within the Washington State Police Department were recently compromised, they say so far they've been able to link one of the stolen cards to this local group.