Attorney General Lynn Fitch has announced the results of a sweeping statewide operation aimed at identifying and removing credit card skimmers, warning consumers and businesses about the growing threat of devices used to steal personal financial information.
Operation S.A.F.E. (Skimmer and Fraud Enforcement), conducted from Nov. 6 through Nov. 20, involved inspections at more than 900 businesses and nearly 6,000 point-of-sale terminals across Mississippi.
“Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your sensitive information, including the use of skimmer devices attached to the credit card readers we use in stores every day,” Fitch said. “I am grateful to our local, state, and federal partners for their assistance throughout this operation. Through education and awareness, we can stop these criminals from defrauding Mississippians and protect the businesses in our communities.”
The operation followed weeks of training led by investigators with the Attorney General’s Cyber Fraud Task Force, who worked with law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and major retailers to help teams identify skimmers, report them, and properly preserve evidence.
During the two-week sweep, investigators partnered with 39 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Capitol Police, sheriff’s officers across the state, and dozens of municipal police departments to conduct inspections and provide education to businesses.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force also collaborated with financial institutions, including Amory Federal Savings, Keesler Federal Credit Union, and Veritas Federal Credit Union, as well as retailers such as Kroger, Lowe’s, Walgreens, and Walmart.
So far this year, the Attorney General’s Office has recovered 15 skimmers statewide, including one found during Operation S.A.F.E.
Officials encourage consumers to protect themselves by using tap-to-pay or chip readers whenever possible and avoiding magnetic card swipes. They also urged customers to examine terminals, making them appear large or different, and sometimes pulling away when lifted at the corners.