More credit card skimmers found on NC gas pumps. How can you thwart high-tech thieves?
Someone managed to get a key to open gas pumps and insert credit card skimmers in at least one North Carolina town, police say.
Police say they plan to send the devices to the State Crime Lab after they were found in Elizabethtown gas pumps this week.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture found the high-tech devices during annual inspections at the gas stations in the town between Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Investigators have no idea how long the devices have been in the pumps and stealing credit card information from customers, Elizabethtown police said in a Facebook post.
“These type of skimming devices are made to capture and store information from financial cards that are used at the fuel pump,” police said.
But the skimmers they found can only steal data from cards with strips, not chips, they said.
“Whoever installed these devices had a key and opened the fuel pump door, installed the skimming device in 30 seconds or less, locked the fuel pump door and planned to return at a later date to retrieve the device to get the stolen financial card data,” police said.
Inspectors found the skimmers at the gas stations at the Scotchman at 101 E. Broad St. and the Community Mart at 909 E. Broad St., both in Elizabethtown, according to police.
Protect yourself from credit card skimmers
The best way to protect yourself from credit card skimmers at pumps is to pay attention to the pump before you put your card in.
“Investigate the card reader to make sure nothing looks or feels unusual. If something doesn’t seem right, pay inside and report your concerns,” credit company Experian advises.
“If possible, only stop at busy, well-lit and well-maintained gas stations. Look for stickers or other signs that the pumps are regularly inspected,” Experian said in a blog post about gas station skimmers.
Convenience store chain Cemex has similar tips. The company says if something feels off at the pump, compare it to other pumps at the station.
Does the card reader look different from other pumps at the station? If the card reader is loose or it’s hard to insert your card, that may be a sign of tampering, Cemex warns.
Is there a safety seal sticker on the pump? If the sticker on the gas pump door is torn or cut, that could mean someone opened it to install a skimmer, according to the company.
Use the “pay by credit” option on pumps whenever possible for an extra layer of protection. If a scammer gets your debit card and pin number, they can get access to your bank account, Experian said. Credit card companies also give more protection against theft.
Experian said people should keep an eye on their credit or debit card statements for any charges you didn’t make.
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 9:34 AM with the headline "More credit card skimmers found on NC gas pumps. How can you thwart high-tech thieves?."
