Gas Pump Credit Card Skimmer Found In Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL — Motorists who use the Marathon gas station on North Washington Boulevard in Sarasota to fill up their tanks might want to check their credit card and bank receipts.

The Sarasota Police Department announced Thursday that a skimming device had been found inside one of the pumps at the 2000 N. Washington Blvd. station. Police say it is unclear just how long the skimmer has been in place. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service last checked the pump in March 2015.

Wednesday’s discovery was made by a department of agriculture employee who was performing an annual check on the pump. The device was located inside the pump, police say, out of view of any of the station’s cameras.

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.

Credit card skimmers are an ongoing concern in Florida. Last 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. Law enforcement recommends motorists heed the following tips when filling up:

• 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

If fraudulent charges are detected on a debit or credit card, it’s important to alert the issuing bank right away, law enforcement officials say.

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

Photos courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department