US News
Secret Service expands enforcement against card skimming targeting EBT benefits
Federal authorities report that criminal networks are increasingly targeting magnetic-stripe Electronic Benefit Transfer cards across the United States.
The short version
- The U.S. Secret Service has intensified sweeps of retail payment terminals nationwide, targeting sophisticated skimming devices that copy card data and PINs in seconds.
- Criminals are increasingly focusing on EBT card users whose government benefit cards lack chip or contactless payment features, leaving them reliant on vulnerable magnetic stripes.
- Federal agencies and states are working to modernize SNAP EBT systems with chip technology, though transition timelines leave recipients exposed to potential benefit theft.
Key facts
- The U.S. Secret Service estimates card skimming costs consumers and financial institutions over $1 billion annually.[Fox News]
- During a sweep of 328 Los Angeles businesses, federal agents inspected 1,749 devices and seized 16 skimmers, preventing an estimated $16.6 million in fraud losses.[Fox News]
- Law enforcement seized over 400 illegal skimming devices nationwide in 2025 and currently maintains 32 active federal investigations spanning 15 states.[Fox News]
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service is collaborating with state authorities to transition SNAP EBT systems to chip-enabled cards.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The exact timeline for full implementation of chip-enabled technology across state SNAP EBT networks remains unspecified.[Fox News]