Gas Pump Skimmers A Concern As Labor Day Draws Near

As Floridians prepare to fill up and hit the road for the long Labor Day weekend, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs is warning motorists to exercise caution at the pumps.

Illegal gas pump skimmers could be a concern for motorists over the holiday weekend, the state said. In the last month, the department has removed nine skimmers from gas stations throughout the state. A lengthy crackdown earlier in the year resulted in the removal of 81 skimmers from locations across Florida, including several Tampa Bay area gas stations.

Skimmers are high-tech devices meant to capture a person’s debit or credit card information when a card is swiped at the pump. Skimmers are generally placed inside gas pump cabinets, making them very difficult for motorists to spot before they pay.

Although the number of skimmers found during the last month of inspections is relatively low, the state says this type of identity theft is no laughing matter and can wreak havoc on victims’ lives and credit.

See Also:

• Results of Statewide Gas Pump Skimmer Sweep Announced
• Credit Card Skimmers Found at Gas Pumps in 2 Area Counties
• Credit Card Skimmers: What You Need to Know

“In order to better protect consumers, our inspectors routinely check for skimmers while inspecting a gas pump,” Commissioner Adam H. Putnam said in an email to media. “While the overall number of these devices is low, we encourage Floridians and visitors to take precautions at the pump to protect their financial information.”

In the most recent round of inspections, skimmers were found in these counties: Brevard, 1; Broward, 1; Lake, 2; Miami-Dade, 1; Palm Beach, 2; Seminole, 1; and Washington, 1.

The results of the statewide sweep earlier this year turned up skimmers in the following counties in the Bay area and nearby:

• Hernando – 2
• Hillsborough – 6
• Pasco – 1
• Pinellas – 1
• Polk – 3
• Sarasota – 1

The Pasco and Hillsborough discoveries were announced in March following a targeted sweep in those two counties.

While it’s very difficult for motorists to spot skimmers, there are measures they can take to protect their information and their money, authorities say.

“You never want to use your debit card, because money comes out instantly,” Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Det. Larry McKinnon warned. Criminals, he added, tend to place skimmers on the end pumps so they can be installed out of view of store employees.

Both the department of agriculture and the sheriff’s office recommend people use credit instead of debit cards at the pump because it’s easier to dispute fraudulent charges. They also recommend paying inside when possible.

Catching fraudulent charges right away is also important.

“The most surefire way is to check your credit card statement,” McKinnon said. “Check them a couple times a week if not more.”

McKinnon also recommends consumers exercise caution when using debit cards anywhere since any money swiped comes directly out of a person’s cash reserves instantly.

“I don’t even use a debit card anymore,” he admitted.

For those who must pay at the pump, officials say it’s best to:

• Only use gas pumps that require ZIP code entry because that provides another layer of protection against skimmers
• Check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with
• Feel the slot where a card is inserted to make sure it is not loose
• Use a pump as close to the front of the store as possible
• If using a debit card, run it as credit instead of using the PIN number

For more information about how to safeguard against credit card fraud, visit the Federal Trade Commission online.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office