A quick swipe at a payment terminal could put your financial information at risk. The U.S. Secret Service is working with Anchorage businesses to help identify card skimmers and prevent fraud.
Your Alaska Link joined agents as they demonstrated how to spot suspicious devices attached to or hidden inside card readers.
“Tape, glue. Maybe one terminal is fatter than the one next to it,” Michael Peck explained, pointing out warning signs consumers should look for.
Nationwide, operations have uncovered more than 200 illegal skimmers and prevented nearly $220 million in fraud, according to figures shared during the demonstration.
Officials warn that the threat also extends to Alaska families who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Criminals can steal card information and capture PINs to access funds intended for groceries and other necessities.
“Alaska has a large population of government benefit recipients, which makes us a target-rich environment for skimming and potential fraud,” Peck noted. “But these groups are also targeting those SNAP numbers because they know it’s cash.”
When benefits are stolen, families may be left without money for food and other basic needs. Recovering those funds is not always guaranteed.
“In many cases people are out that money. They’re not feeding their families. They’re not heating their homes,” Peck emphasized.
Officials recommend checking card readers for loose, raised or mismatched parts before using them. Laura McElroy encouraged consumers to inspect the machines by sight and touch.
“It's just really important to kind of know, feel, look. Give it a good tug to see if there's something there,” McElroy advised.
However, some skimmers are hidden inside payment terminals, making them difficult to spot with the naked eye. During the demonstration, Tom Olszak showed how investigators use specialized equipment to scan card readers for hidden devices designed to steal customers’ financial information.
“You have a magnetic strip, and this will read if there's a second one put inside there, put in by the bad guys to read your card. If it’s red, there’s most likely something in there,” Olszak demonstrated.
The tool can help investigators identify suspicious components that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Consumers can also consider using tap-to-pay when available instead of swiping their cards.
The Secret Service plans to continue its outreach in Oregon, helping businesses recognize potential skimming devices. Officials stress that taking a few extra seconds to check a card reader could help protect personal information and prevent financial loss.