Skimming Device Found At Palos Park Shell Station

PALOS PARK, IL -- A suspected skimming device was found at a Palos Park gas station after a woman discovered thousands of dollars in authorized transactions on her bank statements. Police said the woman visited the Shell station at 13056 S. LaGrange Road on Sept. 5. She went into the store where she used the card reader to pay for her purchase.

The skimming device appeared realistic and similar to one used by Shell. Police said it was attached to the keyboard of the Shell card reader used in the counter service area. Skimmers are getting harder to detect and are used by thieves on card readers to steal users’ personal financial information during legitimate transactions.

Palos Park police are working with Shell corporate security as the investigation continues. To avoid having your financial information stolen, police offer the following tips:

• Give the pump a quick once over for cracks or loose pieces, which could indicate that the pump has been tampered with. Check to see if all the seals are intact. If something seems off, move to another pump. Also check card readers in counter service areas.
• Newer ATMs have advanced technology making it more difficult for scammers to steal card information. Newer pumps, such as those with video displays, often utilize the latest technology.
• Be vigilant by checking bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar transactions.

Even if you haven’t visited one of the stations where skimmers have been found, continue to watch your account balances and statements. There may be more skimmers in the area, Miller said.