Secret Service-led outreach in Cleveland removes six card skimmers after inspections at 247 businesses

Skimming devices found during late-January inspections across the city

Federal investigators and partner agencies removed six illegal card-skimming devices from Cleveland-area businesses during an outreach operation conducted in late January, after visiting 247 locations and inspecting more than 1,580 card-reading points. The inspections covered point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs—common targets for skimming schemes that capture payment-card data for later fraud.

The Cleveland activity was part of a broader enforcement-and-education campaign focused on payment-card skimming and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud. Participating agencies in the Cleveland effort included the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and the Ohio Investigative Unit.

How skimming and EBT fraud typically work

Skimming schemes generally rely on criminals covertly attaching a device to a card reader to capture information from magnetic-stripe cards. That stolen data can then be used to create counterfeit cards or to conduct unauthorized purchases and withdrawals. EBT cards have been a frequent target in recent years, in part because thieves can time fraudulent transactions around predictable benefit deposits.

Skimming devices are often designed to be difficult to spot, blending into existing hardware on terminals, pumps or ATMs.

Estimated losses and what the Cleveland numbers mean

Officials estimated the Cleveland removals prevented a potential loss of about $6.25 million. Such figures are typically calculated as avoided fraud exposure associated with skimmers recovered before they can be used to harvest large volumes of card data.

Nationally, the Secret Service has described skimming and EBT-related fraud as a continuing threat to consumers and financial institutions. The agency has linked its outreach model—pairing device detection with education for store personnel—to broader efforts that have recovered hundreds of skimmers and inspected tens of thousands of terminals over the past year.

What consumers and businesses can do to reduce risk

• Inspect card readers before use and avoid devices that look loose, crooked, scratched or unusually bulky.
• Use tap-to-pay or chip-enabled cards when available, which reduce reliance on magnetic-stripe data.
• At gas stations, consider running a debit card as credit to avoid entering a PIN when that option exists.
• Cover the keypad when entering a PIN to reduce the risk of hidden-camera capture.
• Prefer well-lit, indoor ATMs where possible.

Benefit theft replacement rules have narrowed

For households affected by SNAP benefit theft, federal rules previously allowed states to replace some stolen benefits using federal funds for theft occurring within a defined period. That replacement authority expired for benefits stolen on or after Dec. 21, 2024, meaning victims of more recent thefts may face more limited recovery options depending on state processes and timelines.