The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department recently wrapped up a three-year investigation into a credit card fraud and identity theft ring that was using “skimmers”–electronic devices covertly installed over the card slots on ATM machines and other card readers–to capture credit and debit card information, including PIN codes, at a number of computerized gas station pumps. The skimming devices stored the card information until downloaded by the thieves and re-encoded onto the magnetic strips of other cards. The criminals were then able to use the stolen card numbers–of which they had over 10,000 when arrested–to make purchases. Los Angeles authorities arrested three people in connection with the fraud ring and seized luxury vehicles as well as $40,000 in cash.