HOUSTON — The U.S. Secret Service partnered with several law enforcement agencies in a two-day operation across the Houston area to search for credit card skimming devices hidden on credit card machines, gas pumps and ATMs. Investigators inspected more than 3,000 machines at 372 businesses, recovered 14 skimming devices and prevented more than $14 million in potential financial losses.

Houston is a top target for credit card skimming schemes. Skimming devices are placed over or inside card readers to capture debit and credit card information without the user realizing it, and are often designed to closely resemble legitimate card readers. Gas pumps, ATMs and convenience stores are common locations for the devices.

Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said the operation was especially important with the FIFA World Cup less than a month away as Houston prepares for an increase in visitors. "The criminal element is going to come to our city and other cities hosting FIFA events, and you reduce your chances of becoming a victim of a crime by just paying attention," Rosen said.

Michelle Woods, a Houston-area consumer, described a recent experience with card fraud. "I did have my card compromised just in the last couple of weeks and I don't know where it was compromised and it could have been at the gas pump," Woods said.

The Secret Service operation involved inspecting machines at hundreds of businesses across the Houston area over two days. The 14 devices recovered during the sweep represent potential losses that investigators calculated at more than $14 million. The agency partnered with several local law enforcement agencies to conduct the inspections, which covered more than 3,000 machines at 372 businesses.