Card skimming in the US: how to spot skimmers at ATMs and gas pumps

The Secret Service pulled 411 skimmers in 2025 and stopped $400M+ in fraud. How to spot a skimmer, protect EBT benefits and limit your debit liability.

2026-10-31

Magnetic stripes still coexist with chips in the US, which keeps an old crime alive: card skimming. A hidden reader at an ATM, gas pump or checkout terminal copies card data, while a pinhole camera or fake keypad captures the PIN.

How big is skimming in the US?

In 2025, Secret Service operations inspected nearly 60,000 terminals, pumps and ATMs at more than 9,000 businesses, removed 411 skimming devices and prevented over $400 million in fraud, according to figures reported by KMPH. A single Boston operation in September 2025 checked 700 businesses, found 16 devices and prevented an estimated $16.7 million in losses (Secret Service).

Why are EBT cards targeted?

SNAP EBT cards long relied on magnetic stripes. States replaced about $211.8 million in stolen benefits through 450,000+ claims, but federal replacement covered only thefts through December 20, 2024 (CRS). California rolled out chip-and-tap EBT cards in February 2025 and says card-based thefts fell 83% since January 2024 (KEYT).

How do you spot a skimmer?

Wiggle the reader: anything loose, crooked, scratched or taped is a red flag.
Compare with neighboring pumps or ATMs; skip the odd one out and tell staff.
Use tap-to-pay or chip; run debit as credit at the pump; shield your PIN.
Prefer well-lit indoor ATMs and be extra careful in tourist areas.

What is your liability?

Per the FTC: credit cards, up to $50. Debit cards: $0 if reported before misuse, $50 within two business days, up to $500 within 60 days of the statement, and potentially everything after that. Call your bank, follow up in writing, dispute charges and check your credit reports (identity theft guide).

See also card skimming, US fraud data and the radar.

How does a skimmer actually steal your data?

A skimmer is a small reader placed over or inside the card slot of an ATM, gas pump or checkout terminal. It copies the data on the magnetic stripe as the card goes in. To get the PIN, criminals add a pinhole camera above the keypad or an overlay keypad. At ATMs, the Secret Service notes there may be one device inside the slot and another outside. The copied data is then used to make cloned cards or to drain accounts, which is why benefit cards with magnetic stripes only have been especially exposed.

What should travelers from abroad keep in mind?

Visitors using foreign cards in the US face the same risk at pumps and ATMs. Prefer tap-to-pay with a phone wallet, avoid entering a PIN at outdoor terminals, and turn on instant purchase alerts from your home bank. If you spot fraud, block the card through your bank's app and report it to local police and to the business where the terminal was located.