$400 Million Crime Ring BUSTED!

Secret Service vest with various tactical gear attached.

Secret Service agents delivered a crushing blow to organized crime rings in 2025, dismantling a massive $400 million card skimming operation that specifically targeted America’s most vulnerable families through Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud.

Story Highlights

Secret Service removed 411 illegal skimming devices and prevented over $400 million in fraud across dozens of cities
Operations specifically protected EBT beneficiaries from food assistance theft targeting vulnerable populations
Agents inspected nearly 60,000 payment terminals at over 9,000 businesses nationwide
Officials emphasize this crackdown represents “only the start” of dismantling organized skimming networks

Nationwide Enforcement Operation Targets Organized Crime

The U.S. Secret Service conducted coordinated operations throughout 2025 across dozens of major cities, including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York City, Atlanta, and Miami. Federal agents partnered with state and local law enforcement to systematically target card skimming schemes at point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps, and ATMs. This multi-jurisdictional approach demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to aggressive law enforcement against organized criminal networks that prey on American families and businesses.

Criminal Networks Target America’s Food Assistance Programs

Criminal organizations specifically targeted Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, stealing food assistance benefits from low-income families who depend on these funds for basic nutrition. Assistant Director Kyo Dolan emphasized that skimming theft hits “the most vulnerable populations,” causing sudden loss of essential food assistance. This represents a direct attack on America’s social safety net, where criminals exploit outdated magnetic stripe technology to steal benefits from families already struggling with economic hardship.

Massive Scale of Criminal Enterprise Exposed

The operation’s scope reveals the sophisticated nature of modern skimming operations, with agents visiting over 9,000 businesses and inspecting nearly 60,000 payment terminals. The removal of 411 skimming devices prevented more than $400 million in potential fraud, demonstrating how organized crime rings systematically infiltrate legitimate commerce. These criminals often operate across state lines and internationally, requiring the coordinated federal response that the Trump administration prioritized through enhanced Secret Service operations.

The Secret Service characterized these efforts as proactive operations designed to locate and remove devices before criminals could retrieve stolen card data. Officials also provided educational materials to businesses on identifying skimming devices, empowering merchants to serve as the first line of defense against these sophisticated criminal schemes targeting American consumers and vulnerable populations.

Ongoing Investigation Promises Further Action

Secret Service officials emphasized that 2025 operations represent “only the start” of broader efforts to investigate and dismantle criminal organizations behind skimming networks. The agency continues working with local, state, federal, and international partners to pursue the organized crime rings that profit from stealing Americans’ hard-earned money and essential benefits. This sustained enforcement approach reflects the administration’s commitment to protecting American families from sophisticated financial crimes that disproportionately harm working families and vulnerable communities.

Consumer protection guidance from the Secret Service advises Americans to inspect payment terminals for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched before use. Officials recommend using tap-to-pay technology when possible and running debit cards as credit transactions to avoid PIN entry, preventing criminals from capturing both card data and personal identification numbers through these illegal devices.