Credit Card Skimmer Discovered at Hingham Gas Station

HINGHAM, MA – Police in Hingham discovered a credit card skimmer device was found Wednesday installed in a self-service gas pump.

The skimmer was found inside pump five at the Lincoln Street Gulf station by a technician who was called to repair a gas pump credit card slot, according to the Hingham Police Department. The gas station management immediately contacted police when the skimmer was discovered.

Police said the skimmer was installed by removing the credit card cover, plugging it in to record the data, and replacing the cover. The skimmer collects credit card data and is later removed from the pump or is accessed wirelessly.

Police are currently unable to determine if the skimmer was accessed or if it contains any credit card data.

No other skimmers were found on the other pumps. Police believe the device was installed last Friday because that is when the credit card scanner began having intermittent connection problems.

Anyone who used the gas pump is advised to contact your bank or credit card company right away. Drivers are also advised to use the pump closest to the store, pay in the store, and use a credit card rather than a debit card.

All the gas stations in Hingham have been made aware of this incident. Police have asked them to check their gas pumps.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective John Marquardt at 781-749-1212 or leave an anonymous tip by using the Drop-A-Dime link at hpd.org.

Photo Credit: Hingham Police Department