How the Secret Service is cracking down on card-skimming scams
Summary
The U.S. Secret Service is working to stop card-skimming scams that steal information from debit, credit, and government benefits cards. Skimming devices secretly capture card details when swiped, leading to over a billion dollars lost each year. Law enforcement recently removed hundreds of these devices and is investigating many related criminal cases.Key Facts
- Skimming devices record card numbers and PINs when cards are swiped on readers or ATMs.
- The devices are hard to detect and can steal up to $1 million each.
- In 2025, over 400 illegal skimming devices were removed by the Secret Service in California alone.
- There are 32 ongoing federal investigations related to card skimming across 15 states.
- Organized crime groups from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Central and South America are behind many scams.
- Criminals often target stores that accept government assistance cards like EBT because these cards are swiped and hold large benefit amounts.
- Victims of stolen benefits often cannot recover their money due to the complexity of the government programs involved.
- Law enforcement recommends using tap-and-pay payment methods to avoid skimming risks when possible.
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