ATLANTA — As SNAP benefit theft continues to disrupt the lives of Georgians dependent on food assistance, the U.S. Secret Service spread out across metro Atlanta Thursday, conducting a special operation as part of a statewide effort to uncover and remove illegal skimming devices from card readers of local businesses.

11Alive News consumer investigative reporter Liza Lucas joined agents in the field as teams visited businesses in an effort to reveal the hidden devices, educate business owners of the warning signs and combat Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud.

RELATED: 'Cyberattack' targets SNAP call center, Georgia officials confirm

The skimming devices, which can be surreptitiously placed over card readers and ATMs, are largely blamed for EBT fraud. Criminals use the skimmer

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