Ryan Cole, Card Skimming, California 2026

SACRAMENTO, CA – A coordinated sweep across Sacramento and Napa Counties last week ripped five illegal card skimming devices from unsuspecting businesses, potentially saving consumers and benefit programs a staggering $5.2 million, authorities announced Monday. The operation, led by the U.S. Secret Service, targeted ATMs, gas pumps, and point-of-sale terminals, uncovering the insidious tech used to steal sensitive card data.

Between April 27th and 29th, teams of agents from the Secret Service, alongside the Napa County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), canvassed 510 businesses. They inspected over 3,000 payment terminals, finding the five skimming devices hidden within legitimate equipment. These devices are designed to capture magnetic strip data when a card is swiped, allowing criminals to clone the cards and drain accounts.

“Illegal card skimming has direct impacts on members of our community and the U.S. Secret Service is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to combat this fraud,” said Ryan Cole, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Sacramento Resident Office. “The goal of this operation was to find and remove skimming devices before card numbers can fall into the hands of criminals.” Cole emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and collaboration with local businesses.

The scope of the problem extends beyond traditional credit and debit cards. The USDA OIG highlighted the targeting of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, used by millions of Americans to access SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. “Such outreach operations are important to help prevent fraudsters from using technology and complicated networks to defraud SNAP,” stated USDA OIG Special Agent in Charge Shawn Dionida. “We will continue to work diligently with our partner agencies to help businesses identify potential fraud and ensure EBT cards are used only by those who qualify for and rely on these benefits to survive.”

HHS OIG Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden underscored the impact on vulnerable families. “When card-skimming schemes prey on TANF recipients, they do more than defraud taxpayers— they rob stability from households that depend on these benefits,” Breeden said. “Working with our federal, state, and local partners, we are aggressively targeting the criminals behind these schemes.” The agency warns that skimming schemes are increasingly sophisticated, making detection difficult.

This latest operation is part of a nationwide effort by the Secret Service, which removed over 400 skimming devices in 2025, preventing an estimated $428 million in fraudulent transactions. Experts estimate that card skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion annually. Authorities urge consumers to carefully inspect card readers for any signs of tampering – loose parts, damage, or anything that appears out of place – and to utilize tap-to-pay options whenever available. The Secret Service and its partners are urging businesses to train staff to recognize the warning signs of skimming devices and to report any suspicious activity immediately.

Source: https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2026/05/us-secret-service-led-outreach-operation-nets-five-illegal-skimming