A man has been sentenced in a Mississippi cyber fraud investigation that authorities say uncovered five card-skimming devices and more than 1,600 stolen card numbers, according to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced Monday that Yerson Jose Salazar Amarista was sentenced on one count of trafficking in device-making equipment.
During the investigation, the Attorney General’s Office Cyber Fraud Task Force recovered five skimming devices from retailers across central Mississippi. Investigators said data connected to the devices included more than 1,600 stolen card numbers, most of which were Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT, payment cards.
The Attorney General’s Office estimates each recovered skimmer represents about $1 million in potential fraud losses, meaning the five devices could have resulted in an estimated $5 million in fraudulent transactions.
According to the release, Amarista entered the United States illegally and will be subject to deportation after his release from prison.
“Card skimming crimes like these not only defraud taxpayers and divert funds meant for those in need; they also often fund violent crimes,” Fitch said in the release.
Fitch said the state created its Cyber Fraud Task Force in 2021 to investigate crimes involving electronic fraud and credited the task force and federal prosecutors for their work on the case.
The Attorney General’s Office said it has recovered 54 skimming devices since January 2025, representing an estimated $54 million in potential fraud losses prevented.
Officials are also reminding consumers to take precautions when using payment cards. The Attorney General’s Office recommends using tap-to-pay or chip readers instead of swiping when possible and examining card readers for anything that appears unusual, oversized or loose.
Anyone who discovers a suspected skimmer should stop using the payment terminal, cover it to prevent additional transactions and avoid touching the device so potential evidence is preserved. Local law enforcement should then be contacted.
The Mississippi Cyber Fraud Task Force can also be reached at [email protected].
