Every day, millions of Americans swipe, tap, and insert their debit and credit cards without giving it a second thought. But hidden inside gas pumps, ATMs, and self-checkout machines, criminals are installing tiny devices known as credit card skimmers—and they're making millions of dollars in the process. By David Johnston Reporting from Austin, Texas, USA June 13, 2026 Updated 8:10 p.m. ET A skimmer is a small electronic device designed to secretly capture information st