Use one hand for the transaction, and place the other above the credit card screen to shield the keypad from view of lurking cameras above.Īmong the most dangerous tools used to steal credit card information are electronic pickpocketing devices. What to do: For extra precaution, use two hands when paying for gas at the pump. Pinhole cameras are often situated above the keypad area. What to look for: Again, search for anything on the face of the gas pump that looks different compared to the other pumps. For this reason, it’s always better to use a credit card at a gas station rather than a debit card. With this added information, criminals can commit debit card fraud and withdraw funds directly from bank accounts, as well as make fraudulent credit card purchases. They are sometimes used in conjunction with credit card skimmers to capture footage of customers entering their PIN numbers on debit cards. These inconspicuous cameras are so small that cardholders really have to be paying attention to spot them. If enough reports of gas station credit card fraud are forwarded, this might get an investigation started. You might want to inform the gas attendant if you see a voided sticker - and you should definitely contact the local authorities to report the gas station scams in the area. If it has one that is placed on the unit correctly - across the opening of the door - and it reads “VOID,” move on to the next pump or station. What to do: Before using a gas pump, find out whether the pump has a tamper-evident sticker.
When a door is broken into, the sticker is lifted revealing the words “VOID” on the sticker. Some gas stations, like Shell stations, apply a tamper-proof seal across the opening of the credit card door. If it looks battered, as if someone tried to pry it open, or if the lock itself is broken, it might be compromised. What to look for: Survey the gas pump’s edges - especially the hatch surrounding the credit card unit. They implant devices internally, and these devices then capture the credit card information from within once customers swipe their cards. Before sliding a credit card through the machine, tug on the reader to ensure it is securely attached skimmers will easily pop off with little effort.Ĭontact the police to file a police report if you find a credit card skimmer this is a necessary step so that the device can be placed safely in the hands of authorities.Ĭriminals usually infiltrate credit card mechanisms through the front panel of gas pumps. For that reason, they are attached using only double-sided tape, so thieves can easily remove them. What to do: Skimming devices are meant to be placed temporarily for a matter of hours or just a day.
What to look for: If a credit card slot looks different from the other card readers at the station, it might be a setup for a credit card skimming fraud. As customers swipe their cards into the skimmer, the device saves and stores card information immediately. Gas station credit card skimmers are external devices that thieves attach over a real credit card slot at a gas station pump.
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7 Ways to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Fraud at Gas StationsĬonsumers typically worry about credit card fraud when making purchases online or conducting ATM transactions, but over the past few years, fraudulent credit card activity has taken the form of gas station scams that use technology to victimize patrons. The key to staying safe is understanding how to protect yourself from identity theft and credit card fraud.īy practicing these security measures before swiping a credit card at the gas pump, you can protect yourself from identify theft and credit card fraud.ġ. Beware of Gas Station Credit Card Skimmers