Credit Card Skimmer Found at Pasco Gas Pump

The New Port Richey Police Department has recovered an illegal credit card skimmer from a gas station on U.S. 19.

According to the agency, the device was found Thursday around 3 p.m. during a routine maintenance check on a pump at Sunoco, 5736 U.S. 19. It was found on pump No. 7, an email from the agency to media stated.

“It is unknown as to how long the device has been attached to the gas pump,” the email noted.

Credit card skimmers are devices that are used to swipe customer credit and debit card information for illegal use. Once captured, bad guys use the card numbers swiped at pumps to drain bank accounts making purchase of their own. Skimmers are generally placed inside gas pump cabinets, making them very difficult for motorists to spot before they pay.

Thursday’s find comes on the heels of numerous others throughout the Tampa Bay area. In June, Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies found skimmers at pumps in Wesley Chapel.

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 April, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced it had worked with local law enforcement agencies across the state to check more than 6,000 gas stations. All told, about 81 skimmers turned up.

To protect against illegal skimming, motorists are warned to exercise caution at the pump. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Det. Larry McKinnon and the state recommend following these tips:

• 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

Thieves don’t just stake out gas stations for stealing credit card information, McKinnon warned. With that in mind, he recommends using credit cards at other locations when possible and getting into the routine of checking statements as frequently as possible. If fraudulent charges are detected on a debit or credit card, it’s also important to alert the issuing bank right away.

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

The New Port Richey case remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office