ATLANTA — Members of the U.S. Secret Service and several partner agencies worked together to find card skimming devices in Georgia as part of an effort to prevent Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud.
Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln has been covering cases of EBT thefts for years. She spoke with the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s field office in Atlanta for Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m.
“These skimming devices target EBT recipients — some of the most vulnerable," Special Agent Robert Donavan said.
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From Thursday to Friday, Secret Service agents, investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local and state law enforcement agents visited 542 business and performed 3,408 inspections.
The agencies were removing illegal skimming devices from various ATMs, gas pumps and points of sale. Agents said 41 skimming devices were recovered, helping prevent an estimated $43.7 million in potential financial losses.
“Often these criminals distract the cashier and they slide the skimming device on — that easy," Donovan said.
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For years, Channel 2 Action News has warned about thieves emptying government and personal bank accounts using skimmers.
Runell Robinson says she’s one of millions who’ve had hundreds stolen.
“How are we supposed to know the difference between the real machine and the false one?” she asked. “It makes you a little more vigilant to look at the machines.”
Currently, Georgia lawmakers are looking at options to reduce skimming of government funds.
Donovan says awareness is key.
“The more folks that are aware in the community, the more store owners are aware — it’ll lead to a reduction of this type of crime," he told Lincoln.
Agents urge consumers to be cautious and take steps to protect themselves:
- Inspect ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and other card readers. Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged or scratched. Do not use a card reader if anything appears unusual.
- Whenever possible, use tap-to-pay technology or use debit and credit cards with chip technology.
- If using a debit card at a gas station, run it as a credit card to avoid entering a PIN number. If that is not an option, consumers should use their hand to hide their PIN to block scammers who may be using tiny pinhole cameras above the keypad area to record entries. Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, which are less vulnerable targets.
- Be alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, they worked with the Atlanta, Columbus, Rome, City of South Fulton, Carrollton, DeKalb County, University of North Georgia, Marietta and Kennesaw police departments and deputies from Fulton County, Muscogee County, Douglas County, Barrow County, Jackson County, Fayette County and Cobb County sheriff’s offices, plus members of the Georgia State Patrol.
Each year, federal officials say more than $1 billion is lost to card skimmers. Recently, agencies have seen a nationwide increase in skimmers targeting EBT cards, according to the Secret Service.
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