A three-day operation led by federal agencies resulted in the removal of 17 payment card skimming devices across the greater Los Angeles area, preventing an estimated $17.7 million in potential losses, officials said.
Joint Operation LAX, led by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was conducted Aug. 4-6 and included visits to 328 businesses and inspections of more than 1,700 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs, according to authorities.
Officials from both agencies also distributed educational materials about Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud and payment card skimming to help businesses identify illegal devices that criminals may have installed.
“This operation demonstrates the U.S. Secret Service’s commitment to safeguarding businesses and consumers from the growing threat of payment card skimming and EBT fraud which can have devastating financial ramifications for innocent, law-abiding citizens,” said Armando Marquez, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Los Angeles Field Office.
Authorities said the Los Angeles-area effort is similar to Secret Service-led outreach operations conducted across the country.
“I want to commend the United States Department of Agriculture for their partnership in this mission, which prevented millions of dollars in potential losses and provided critical information to help local businesses protect their customers.”
In 2025, law enforcement personnel removed more than 400 illegal skimming devices during such operations, preventing an estimated $428 million in potential fraud losses, according to the Secret Service.
According to authorities, skimming devices capture information from EBT cards and other payment card numbers and encode the stolen data onto other cards with a magnetic strip. Skimming is estimated to cost financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion annually.
How consumers can protect themselves
Inspect card readers: Avoid ATMs, gas pumps or payment terminals that appear loose, crooked, damaged or scratched.
Tap or use a chip: Choose tap-to-pay or chip-enabled cards whenever possible.
Protect your PIN: At gas stations, run debit cards as credit when possible. Otherwise, cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
Choose ATMs carefully: Use machines in well-lit, indoor locations when possible.
Stay alert in tourist areas: Be especially cautious of potential skimming devices in popular tourist destinations.