By VDC staff

The United States Secret Service will lead a multi-agency outreach effort next week across parts of northern New England to help retailers detect and prevent electronic benefits fraud.

From March 17–19, federal agents and partner agencies will deploy 11 operational teams in Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern Maine to educate businesses about fraud involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, the Barre Police Department said Saturday.

Between about 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, agents will visit stores to provide brochures and guidance on identifying card-skimming devices and recognizing signs of fraud. Officials said the operation is non-enforcement in nature and focuses on helping retailers protect themselves and their customers.

If a skimming device is discovered during a visit, trained personnel will remove and collect the device for further analysis.
In Vermont, outreach teams plan to visit retailers in Barre, Berlin, East Barre, Graniteville, Montpelier, Northfield, Plainfield, and Williamstown.

The outreach effort will be coordinated through the Secret Service’s Manchester Resident Office, according to Resident Agent in Charge Kerry Meade. Officials said the initiative aims to help businesses recognize emerging fraud trends and prevent losses related to card-skimming schemes.