SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As last-minute shoppers raced to pick up gifts for their loved ones, law enforcement officials urged people to be wary of card skimming and other scams after a two-day operation uncovered nearly two dozen skimming devices across in San Diego.
The two-day operation, which was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service in tandem with San Diego law enforcement last week, encompassed visits to more than 150 local businesses to identify and remove illicit skimming devices from slots where consumers would place their debit cards.
This technology is used by scammers to record one’s card information, so they can then fraudulently use it elsewhere. Some are also equipped with cameras to steal pin information.
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With the recent search, a total of 21 skimming devices were recovered in the county, preventing estimated financial losses of around $63 million, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service Los Angeles Field Office said in a release Monday.