£30,000 Halesowen fuel card cloning scam is smashed by police

Crooked cashier Khaled Abdulkawi cloned at least 46 cards at the Esso Falcon service station, Bromsgrove Road, and passed them to accomplices who topped up tanks, leaving companies signed up to the Allstar fuel card scheme to foot the bill.

Two men used the cards repeatedly at regional garages, mainly those in Washwood Heath and Erdington areas of Birmingham.

Abdulkawi, 26, from Dorothy Adams Close in Cradley Heath, copied the cards between November 2013 and May 2014.

He admitted three counts of fraud and was given an 18-month jail term suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work, at Birmingham Crown Court.

Today police released these images and video of another suspect wanted in connection with the fraud.

A third man, 38, has been arrested and bailed.

Dc Launa Rowley from the Economic Crime Unit (ECU), said: "The scam was identified after some fuel card customers reported strange transactions on their accounts – but whenever one of the cards became 'hot' the fraudsters moved onto the next card cloned by Abdulkawi in order to keep the con going.

"That's why they were able to rack up such a large quantity of stolen fuel over a period of many months."

A man police want to speak to is described as white, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, of slim build, with short reddish-brown hair with a side parting.

He is often seen wearing a dark blue or grey parka-style coat with a fur hood and toggle fastenings on the front, or a fawn and brown hooded top with shoulder patches.

Anyone who recognises the Economic Crime Unit should call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.