Secret Service ramps up crackdown on multi-million dollar card-skimming rings
The U.S. Secret Service reports a surge in card-skimming devices that siphon data from debit, credit and benefits cards, and it has seized dozens of units in recent operations.
The Secret Service warns that card-skimming schemes, which capture account numbers and PINs from payment cards, are becoming increasingly common across the United States. A single skimmer can generate as much as $1 million before it is discovered, and the devices are difficult to spot or detach, sometimes leaving residue on terminals. In 2025 the agency removed over 400 illegal units, though officials admit this represents only a fraction of the total.
A nationwide probe covering 15 states has linked the activity to organized criminal groups originating in Eastern Europe, Asia and Central and South America, many of which cross the U.S.-Mexico border; one suspect was intercepted after traveling from Canada on a jet ski. The crime disproportionately targets retailers that accept EBT cards, leaving benefit recipients vulnerable and often unable to reclaim lost funds, as illustrated by a mother of six who lost her assistance payments.
Recent operations in California examined 1,749 devices at 328 businesses, seized 16 skimmers and prevented an estimated $16.6 million in losses. Officials advise consumers to favor tap-and-pay where possible to reduce exposure.
Why it matters
Card-skimming steals billions annually, hitting both banks and vulnerable benefit recipients.
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