Portland, Ore. – This week the U.S. Secret Service stepped onto local storefronts to warn merchants about a growing threat to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users. Under Joint Operation Pacific Northwest, agents visited 238 businesses that accept SNAP benefits, inspecting 377 point‑of‑sale terminals, 156 ATMs and 375 gas pumps.
Operation details and outreach
Assistant Special Agent Michael Peck, who led the effort, said the mission was designed to educate business owners and managers about “billion‑dollar fraud schemes” that target benefit recipients. While no active card‑skimming devices were discovered during the visits, the Secret Service considers the outreach a success because of the sheer number of merchants reached.
“Sadly, we are facing an epidemic across our country and in our partner countries where organized crime groups are specifically looking to steal from benefit recipients,” Peck explained. “They know these programs have cash and they want to target them.”
Why SNAP cards are vulnerable
Unlike many debit cards, SNAP cards lack embedded chips, making it easier for criminals to attach a skimming device or hidden camera to a reader. Once the data is captured, it can be sold on the dark web or cashed out directly. Financial analyst Vincent Porter noted that the equipment needed to compromise a terminal is often simple and inexpensive.
Porter warned, “It’s easier than vendors think for a criminal to quickly attach a camera or skimming device to a card reader. They can then steal the data, selling it on the dark web or cashing out themselves.”
Impact on Oregon families
The human cost of these schemes is stark. SNAP recipient Mira Metelman described the anxiety of seeing a depleted SNAP balance after a possible skimmer attack: “It would be really not great if I was just trying to buy food and I realize I have no money on my SNAP card.”
Peck added that victims often lose money “months after months after months,” leaving families unable to purchase meals during critical times such as the holiday season.
How consumers can protect themselves
The Secret Service offered practical tips for shoppers and merchants alike. Look for glue, sticker residue, or any plastic that seems out of place on a card reader. When possible, use contactless “tap‑to‑pay” options, which reduce the need to insert a card into a terminal.
If a skimmer is suspected, the recommendation is to alert store staff immediately so they can involve local law enforcement.
Broader enforcement effort
Since 2024, the Secret Service reports having removed more than 400 skimming devices nationwide. The Portland outreach is part of a larger federal effort to safeguard electronic benefit transactions and protect vulnerable families from organized financial crime.
Local officials praised the operation for its proactive approach. Portland’s Office of Public Safety noted that collaboration between federal agents and local businesses strengthens community resilience and helps keep essential resources in the hands of those who need them most.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
