cloned phone codes

[shaharhada]

In the text:
After a well-publicized pursuit, the FBI arrested Mitnick on February 15, 1995, at his apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, on federal offenses related to a two-and-a-half-year period of computer hacking which included computer and wire fraud.[21][22] He was found with cloned cellular phones, more than 100 cloned cellular phone codes, and multiple pieces of false identification.
What is cloned cellular phones?
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Mitnick

 

[USAFRet]

"A cloned cell phone is one that has been reprogrammed to transmit the ESN and MIN belonging to another cell phone. Scammers can steal ESN/MIN combinations by illegally monitoring the radio wave transmissions from the cell phones of legitimate subscribers."

Cell Phone Fraud

Cellular fraud is defined as the unauthorized use, tampering or manipulation of a cellular phone or service.

www.fcc.gov

Basically, if I can "clone" the ID of your phone, I use your minutes and text, without me paying for it.