A coordinated two-day operation by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across Georgia has resulted in the recovery of 41 illegal payment card skimming devices and the prevention of an estimated $43.7 million in potential fraud.
From August 7 to 8, the U.S. Secret Service, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Special Investigation Unit and law enforcement agencies across Georgia, conducted a wide-reaching outreach and enforcement effort targeting Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud and card skimming. Over the course of the operation, officials visited more than 542 businesses across metro Atlanta and Columbus, inspecting ATMs, gas pumps, and point-of-sale terminals. A total of 3,408 inspections were carried out.
Authorities say the goal was to detect and remove illegal skimming devices and to educate business owners about how to spot and prevent EBT fraud…