HERKIMER, N.Y. -- Herkimer police have confiscated nearly 100 gift cards and debit cards as well as other items that were taken from Wal-Mart stores on April 8th.

"We were called to the Wal-Mart store regarding suspicious activity involving debit cards and or credit cards. The person was trying to swipe several different cards to obtain a gift cards," said Herkimer Police Investigator Robert Risi.

This resulted in the arrest of Alex Prime and Quincy Thompson both of Brooklyn, New York. Police say the credit and debit card information was taken from around the country and used in the Wal-Mart stores in Rome and Herkimer to buy mostly electronic products.

"During the course of our investigation we found that the back of the debit cards were altered with credit card information that was stolen. We don't know where from, they were stolen but that credit card information was placed on the back of the debit card magnet strip," said Risi.

In order to get a card holder's account information, a device called a skimmer is used. It's about the size of cell phone. A person can just swipe a credit card and have the personal information they need.

"The information is then downloaded off the skimmer into a computer and they have the technology to take that information and put it on the magnetic strip of a gift card," said Herkimer Police Captain Scott Scherer.

Herkimer Police say this is the largest fraud investigation they have seen in the area and that Wal-Mart has reported nearly $900,000 lost in merchandise. Wal-Mart declined comment during the investigation.

The FBI, Secret Service and U.S. Postal service as well as other police departments are assisting in this investigation.