Tips on Avoiding Fuel Pump Credit Card Scams

Crooks have gas pumps in their sights in the latest wave of card skimming scams.

They install devices, invisible to staff and customers, which read details off credit and debit cards and can even secretly film the keying of PIN numbers.

Since no one wants to be the victim of identity theft, we’ve gathered some amazing tips to help you at the fuel pump.
Card skimming allows thieves to illegally collect data from the magnetic strip of a credit, debit, or ATM card and copy it onto another bankcard’s magnetic strip. This action gives thieves the opportunity to make illegal purchases or withdraw cash in the name of the actual cardholder.

1. Look for the seal

Skimmers are usually hard to spot without getting into the pump; however, most gas stations will have a security sticker over the service door opening. Should the sticker be tampered with in any way, notify the store clerk or manager immediately. (this tip and picture is via sanangelolive.com)

2. Choose Your Pump Carefully

Skimmers will generally tamper with pumps that are obstructed or further out of view from the gas station attendants. Try to use pumps that are close to the storefront or have good surveillance.

3. Monitor your Bank Account

It’s always a good habit to routinely check into your bank account and make sure that there’s no suspicious activity going on, but especially now that there have been more reports of these scams. If you notice any charges that you don’t recognize, contact your bank immediately.

4. Pay with Cash

The sure fire method to make sure that your credit card is safe is to pay with cash. While it might seem inconvenient, this tip is good for more than just fuel pump skimmers. If you’re unsure about the validity of your fuel pump card scanner (or any card scanner for that matter) it’s always good to have some cash on hand.