The U.S. Secret Service and local partners removed 14 illegal card skimming devices in the Houston area during a two-day operation, inspected more than 3,100 payment terminals, visited 372 businesses, and stopped roughly $14.5 million in potential fraud tied to skimming and EBT targeting.

The operation ran May 13-14 and focused on identifying and removing illegal devices from ATMs, gas pumps and merchant point-of-sale terminals. Law enforcement inspected 3,175 terminals across Harris County and made a concentrated effort in areas where Electronic Benefit Transfer usage is high. Officials emphasized both enforcement and outreach so businesses and residents could spot suspicious devices.

Multiple agencies joined the effort, including the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Houston Police Department, the Santa Fe Police Department, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. That mix of federal, state and local partners is designed to combine investigative reach with on-the-ground knowledge. Teams also handed out educational materials aimed at helping merchants and customers detect skimmers.

“Card skimming threatens the financial security of individuals and families across our community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Rizza of the U.S. Secret Service – Houston Field Office.

“I am proud of our team’s dedication to identifying and removing these devices before they can cause harm, and for their education efforts. While we are always striving to protect the public, this operation was conducted ahead of the World Cup to ensure that international visitors are not preyed upon while visiting the United States. Our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement partners is crucial in preventing this type of fraud and protecting those who rely on these financial resources.”

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Peck of the Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division added bluntly that the response is a team effort. “We know how devastating card skimming can be for innocent residents and families, and that’s why we take these cases so seriously. It’s a team effort—our agents, analysts, law enforcement partners, and other agencies all play a part. Together, we’re not just tracking down criminals and illegal devices, we’re making sure victims and businesses get the support they need and that these crimes don’t go unchecked,” he said, and emphasized victim support and prevention.

Erin Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Houston, framed the work as a public safety priority tied to major events. “HSI Houston is committed to protecting the financial security of our community, especially as we prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup games,” Erin Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge, HSI Houston, said. “Through close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are disrupting criminal schemes and ensuring Houston remains a safe place for residents and visitors alike. This operation demonstrates our dedication to safeguarding consumers and reinforcing public trust during major international events.”

Jeff Roberts, Captain of the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, spoke directly about the predatory nature of EBT and skimming schemes. “The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center exists to protect Texans from the financial predators who target their everyday transactions. Skimmer suspects intentionally target point-of-sale terminals in areas with high volumes of EBT transactions victimizing vulnerable families who depend on those benefits to eat. Make no mistake, EBT fraud is predatory. These suspects deliberately steal food benefits from the families who need them most, exploiting hardship for profit. That is unconscionable. This operation is a direct expression of FCIC’s daily mission to stop them. By working alongside our law enforcement partners, we didn’t just remove illegal devices, we closed the door on millions of dollars in potential losses and defended the people who could least afford to lose a single dollar. That is intelligence-driven prevention at work,” Jeff Roberts, Captain of the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, said.

Sergeant Jessica Hyde of the Houston Police Department highlighted the public awareness piece of the mission, stressing that operations like this do more than seize devices. “This type of operation is impactful not just for the immediate crime prevention accomplished, but for the public awareness and education it provides. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this federal task force, leveraging our combined resources to more effectively combat financial crimes,” Sergeant Jessica Hyde of the Houston Police Department Property & Financial Crimes USSS Cyber Fraud Task Force said.

Criminals capture card data by fitting skimming hardware to legitimate card readers, then encoding stolen information onto another magnetic stripe card. Scammers have also used tiny cameras to capture PIN entries at outdoor keypads or manipulated point-of-sale terminals to harvest credentials. Skimming schemes are widespread enough that estimates put annual losses from skimming in the hundreds of millions to more than a billion dollars across institutions and consumers.

The outreach portion of the operation included distributing educational flyers and showing retailers what to watch for, helping small business owners protect their customers. Education and prevention help reduce the pool of vulnerable targets and make it harder for criminals to place and maintain illegal devices. Officials stressed that reporting suspicious equipment to law enforcement quickly is a critical part of stopping these operations before they cause real damage.

• Inspect card readers, ATMs and pumps for anything loose, crooked, damaged or scratched; do not use a reader that looks different from the rest.
• Use tap-to-pay or cards with chip technology when possible, since skimmers target magnetic stripe data.
• At gas stations, run a debit card as credit to avoid entering a PIN; if a PIN is required, shield it with your hand to block potential pinhole cameras above keypads.
• Be extra alert for tampered card readers in tourist-heavy locations and places with high EBT traffic, where criminals often focus their efforts.