DALLAS — Federal and local law enforcement agencies seized more than a dozen illegal card-skimming devices during a two-day operation targeting payment terminals across North Texas.
The U.S. Secret Service, working with multiple agencies, inspected thousands of point-of-sale systems in Tarrant County during the April 13–14 operation, according to the Dallas Morning News. Officers visited 462 businesses and examined more than 2,900 terminals, including gas pumps and ATMs.
Authorities said the effort resulted in the confiscation of more than a dozen skimming devices, which are used to steal payment card information by mimicking legitimate card readers, the report stated.
“The individuals behind these schemes are relentless, but so are we,” Michael Peck, assistant special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division, said in a statement cited by the Dallas Morning News. “Through coordinated efforts and innovative investigative methods, we are disrupting their operations and ensuring that those who exploit vulnerable families are brought to justice.”
Numerous Agencies Involved
Participating agencies included police departments in Euless, Mesquite, Plano and Roanoke, as well as the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, according to the report.
The Dallas Morning News reported that in addition to removing devices, investigators provided businesses with guidance on how to detect tampered terminals.
Authorities also warned of a growing threat to electronic benefit transfer cards used for programs such as SNAP. The Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reported the first case of EBT skimming in the state in 2022, with some victims losing their entire monthly benefits, the Dallas Morning News reported.
‘Serious Threat’
“EBT fraud is a serious threat impacting families nationwide,” Christina Foley, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Dallas Field Office, said in remarks cited by the newspaper. “Our investigative teams are committed to dismantling these skimmer operations and holding perpetrators accountable.”
Card skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion annually, according to the Secret Service, as reported by the Dallas Morning News.
Law enforcement officials urged consumers to take precautions, including checking card readers for signs of tampering, using tap-to-pay options when available and avoiding entering PINs when possible by selecting credit transactions.
