Los Angeles sweep removes 17 card skimmers, averts $17.7M in potential losses

A three-day operation across the greater Los Angeles area led by federal agencies resulted in the removal of 17 illegal payment card skimming devices and inspections of more than 1,700 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs, authorities said.

Scope of the operation

The effort, called Joint Operation LAX, was conducted Aug. 4-6 and was led by the U.S. Secret Service in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During the three days, agents and partners visited 328 businesses across the region to identify and remove unauthorized devices that can capture card data.

• Duration: Aug. 4-6
• Businesses visited: 328
• Terminals, pumps and ATMs inspected: more than 1,700
• Skimming devices removed: 17
• Estimated potential losses averted: $17.7 million

Officials said the operation included both enforcement actions and an outreach component. Agents distributed educational materials aimed at helping business owners and employees identify suspicious devices and understand Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud risks.

“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,”

the special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Los Angeles Field Office, Armando Marquez, said in a statement. Agency officials also acknowledged the USDA as a critical partner in the effort.

Local context and broader trends

The Los Angeles-area operation is part of nationwide Secret Service outreach and enforcement targeting card skimming and related fraud schemes. The agency reported that in 2025 similar operations led to the removal of more than 400 illegal skimming devices nationwide and that those efforts prevented an estimated $428 million in potential fraud losses.

Skimming devices are designed to capture magnetic stripe data from payment cards — including EBT cards — and then allow criminals to clone that information onto other cards. According to federal authorities, skimming is responsible for losses that exceed $1 billion annually to financial institutions and consumers.

For Los Angeles businesses that rely on point-of-sale systems and outdoor pay stations, the inspection campaign underscores ongoing vulnerabilities at card readers and fuel pumps. Officials encouraged merchants to be vigilant for physical signs of tampering and to make use of the educational materials distributed during the operation.

What business owners and consumers should watch for

Authorities urged simple precautions to reduce the risk of falling victim to skimming:

• Inspect card readers and terminals for loose or damaged components.
• Report any devices that appear altered, crooked or scratched.
• Monitor bank and transaction statements for unauthorized charges.
• Ask employees to follow best practices for securing terminal hardware and to contact authorities if they suspect tampering.

The Secret Service said the Los Angeles operation mirrors other regional campaigns designed to combine on-site inspections with education for owners and employees. While the agency credited the coordinated effort with preventing millions in potential losses locally, it emphasized that ongoing vigilance by businesses and consumers remains a key element in stopping skimming and EBT fraud.

As federal agencies continue similar campaigns across the country, Los Angeles businesses are being urged to adopt routine checks of payment hardware and to use available resources to protect customers and reduce financial harm from fraud schemes.