Secret Service card skimming operation in Mass. prevents estimated $16.7M in taxpayer losses
A recent U.S. Secret Service card skimming operation in Massachusetts is believed to have prevented $16.7 million in lost taxpayer dollars, according to the Secret Service.
From Sept. 23 to 25, 12 Secret Service Boston analyst teams partnered with Massachusetts State Police, Boston police, Worcester police and eight other local police departments to check for and remove card skimming devices at local businesses, the Secret Service said in a press release .
During the operation, law enforcement visited 700 businesses in Boston, Worcester, Cambridge, Lynn, Westwood, Everett, Concord, Malden and Topsfield to check their ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale terminals, the Secret Service said. As a result, 16 card skimming devices were identified and removed.
The Secret Service estimates that the device removals prevented $16.7 million in government losses.
The Secret Service also provided the businesses with educational materials about EBT fraud and card skimming to help them identify signs that a skimming device may have been placed in their point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps or ATMs.
"This proactive operation, and those like it around the country, highlights the level of cooperation needed to combat the criminal enterprises that perpetrate these callous acts," Boston Field Office Special Agent in Charge Randy Maloney said in the release.
The U.S. Secret Service checked card readers at 700 businesses in Massachusetts last week, removing 16 card skimming devices.U.S. Secret Service
Criminals often steal EBT and other payment card numbers by installing illegal skimming devices in ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale terminals, the Secret Service said. This technology captures card information and encodes the data onto other cards with a magnetic strip.
Card skimming is estimated to cause $1 billion in financial losses to consumers and financial institutions each year, the Secret Service said.
Law enforcement agencies have seen a nationwide increase in card skimming —particularly that which targets EBT cards, the agency said. Because government assistance is automatically deposited into EBT accounts each month, criminals can easily go undetected by making their fraudulent withdrawals and purchases around the time of the monthly deposit.
"EBT fraud targets the nation's most vulnerable communities," the release reads.
The U.S. Secret Service checked card readers at 700 businesses in Massachusetts last week, removing 16 card skimming devices.U.S. Secret Service
Tips for avoiding card skimmers:
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Inspect ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and other card readers for anything loose, crooked, damaged or scratched
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Do not use a card reader if anything appears unusual
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Whenever possible, use cards with tap-to-pay or chip insert technology
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When using a debit card at a gas station, run it as a credit card to avoid entering your PIN
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When entering your PIN at a gas pump or ATM, use your hand to cover the number pad to avoid it being recorded by a pinhole camera
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Use ATMs in well-lit, indoor locations, as these are less likely to be targeted by card skimmers
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Take particular care to check for signs of card skimming in tourist areas, as these are popular targets
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