MOBILE, Ala. – A coordinated law enforcement sweep across Mobile, Alabama and surrounding areas has ripped three illegal skimming devices from circulation, averting an estimated $3.1 million in fraudulent losses. The U.S. Secret Service led the two-day operation, focusing on ATMs, gas pumps, and point-of-sale terminals – the prime hunting grounds for thieves targeting Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and other payment methods.
Teams of Secret Service analysts, partnered with the Mobile Police Department, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Department of Insurance – State Fire Marshal, Fairhope Police Department, and the Alabama Department of Human Resources, systematically inspected nearly 400 businesses. The recovered skimmers were found in Chickasaw, Mobile, and Spanish Fort. The operation isn’t just about hardware; it’s a direct response to a nationwide surge in skimming, particularly aimed at exploiting vulnerable communities reliant on EBT for food and essential needs.
“If we can take these skimmers out and we can educate people to check, then we can make a big difference here locally. We can help the people who live here, and we can stop some of the fraud that’s happening with these skimmers,” stated Resident Agent in Charge Jennifer Nissen of the Mobile Resident Office. The Secret Service isn’t solely focused on arrests, but on prevention – distributing educational materials to businesses to help them identify and report suspicious devices. The timing is critical; criminals often synchronize fraudulent withdrawals with monthly EBT deposit cycles.
This isn’t an isolated incident. The Secret Service has been conducting similar outreach operations across the country since April 2024. In 2025 alone, these efforts yielded the removal of over 400 illegal skimming devices, potentially saving over $428 million. So far in 2026, agents have visited 1,800 businesses, inspected 11,783 machines, and seized 44 skimmers, preventing more than $45.8 million in fraudulent activity. The Mobile operation is being eyed as a potential model for other areas grappling with similar issues.
Skimming isn’t a victimless crime. Thieves install virtually undetectable devices on legitimate card readers, capturing sensitive data from EBT cards and transferring it to counterfeit cards. The financial impact is staggering, costing institutions and consumers over $1 billion annually. This operation, involving personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Treasury – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, underscores the multi-agency approach needed to combat this growing threat.
Consumers can protect themselves by carefully inspecting ATMs and card readers for anything loose, damaged, or unusual. Authorities urge citizens to utilize tap-to-pay technology or cards equipped with chip readers whenever possible. Reporting suspicious devices or activity to local law enforcement is crucial in disrupting these criminal networks and safeguarding vital benefits for those who need them most. The Secret Service continues to warn the public that vigilance is the best defense against these increasingly sophisticated scams.
Related Federal Cases
- Karen McGinnis Sentenced to 20 Months for Tax Skimming, Scranton PA… · Pennsylvania
- Marcus Bell Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, Baltimo… · Maryland
- Robert L. Crites, Defrauded TRICARE, Batesville MS, 2023 · Washington
- Bruce Choi, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Christopher Guilford, Tax Refund Scheme, Sacramento CA, 2025 · Virginia
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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