09/09/2024

U.S. Secret Service and Partners Conduct EBT Fraud and Card Skimming Outreach Operation

U.S. Secret Service

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement partners conducted a payment card skimming and Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud outreach operation Sept. 5 in Birmingham, Ala., and the surrounding area. 

Personnel from the U.S. Secret Service, Birmingham Police Department, Alabaster Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Hoover Police Department, Vestavia Hills Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office visited more than 151 businesses in the greater Birmingham area to check for and remove illegal skimming devices from ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale terminals.

Three skimming devices were recovered during the operation. In total, more than 1,400 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs were inspected.

Teams also distributed educational materials about EBT fraud and card skimming to help businesses better identify the warning signs of illegal skimming devices in their point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs.

“The number of illegal skimming devices and cases of EBT fraud continue to be an issue in the Birmingham area,” said Patrick Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Birmingham Field Office. “Our proactive approach not only identifies and removes skimmers, but also provides businesses with useful information to help them protect customers from falling victim to this crime.”