Many people in the United States are at risk of falling victim to a type of scam and might be completely unaware of it. The U.S. Secret Service has noted a growing concern regarding skimming devices. These devices are capable of capturing crucial account information and PINs from bank and government benefits cards. Their deployment on debit and credit card readers is swift, needing only seconds to set up.
CBS News accompanied the Secret Service during their investigation in Los Angeles to look for these skimmers. Once attached to a card terminal or ATM, skimming devices collect data each time someone swipes a card. Often, a hidden wireless transmitter inside the skimmer sends this stolen data directly to the scammer. Vince Porter, a Secret Service analyst, explained to CBS News that a single skimmer might be responsible for up to $1 million in theft.
“The devices are tough to recognize and harder to remove,” Porter explained. Sometimes, law enforcement needs to pry them off, leaving traces behind. The duration a skimmer has been in operation is difficult to determine.
In 2025 alone, more than 400 illegal skimming devices were removed by the Secret Service, which they believe only accounts for a small fraction of devices. A CBS News investigation uncovered 32 ongoing federal probes across 15 states.
The Secret Service and its law enforcement partners have observed a rise in skimming activities over the past two years. The escalation in crime has led to greater financial losses. According to Secret Service estimates, skimming costs consumers and financial institutions over $1 billion annually. Special agent Michael Peck, leading the Secret Service’s criminal investigation division, reported that organized criminal groups from outside the U.S. are behind these scams.
Peck revealed that these groups often come from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. Quite a few enter the country via the U.S.-Mexico border. In a unique incident, one individual was caught after traversing the border from Canada on a Jet Ski.
A Targeted Crime
Often, stores that accept EBT cards, containing government benefit money, are targeted. A government assistance card can collect substantial amounts of taxpayer money from federal and state programs like food stamps and housing assistance each month. Many of these cards need to be swiped, lacking the security provided by tap-and-pay or chip methods.
Porter explained, “When stores advertise acceptance of these funds, they can become a target.” This situation is often coined as “a one-stop crime.”
When benefits are stolen, victims usually have a tough time getting them back due to the involvement of multiple agencies in dispersing the funds. Mary Bowen, a mother of six who relies on government aid, shared her dilemma. Last week, her benefits vanished, leaving her unable to pay rent or buy groceries.
“It just disappeared. I don’t even have cash in here,” Bowen lamented. “I’ve been relying on friends for food because they took everything.”
During their operations, law enforcement in California visited 328 businesses and inspected 1,749 devices, seizing 16 skimmers and averting approximately $16.6 million in potential fraud loss. Such operations have also been conducted in various U.S. cities.
Skimming scams are rampant in major cities like Los Angeles but pose threats even in smaller towns. To safeguard oneself, Peck advises minimizing swiping. Government benefit cards typically require swiping, which presents a risk. However, for those who can, opting for tap-and-pay is “the best way to protect yourself as a consumer,” according to Peck.
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