Credit Card Skimmer Found At East Austin Gas Station

EAST AUSTIN, TX — A credit card data skimmer was found at an East Austin gas station, state officials said Friday.

The device that enables the stealing of credit card financial data was discovered at the Jiffy Sak gas station, 6105 Techni Center Dr., according to an advisory released Friday morning by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The contraption was found at Pump No. 7, officials added.

“Local law enforcement was notified and is on its way to the scene for follow-up and removal of device,” department officials said in a prepared statement. Officials took the opportunity to provide tips to consumers toward avoidance of being victimized:

• Use the pump closest to storefront so that you are in the line of sight of store personnel.
• Before pumping, check for usual bluetooth signals that might indicate a skimmer is present.
• Make sure the security tape on the gas pump cabinet has not been torn. Damaged tape might indicate that the cabinet was opened without the store employees’ knowledge.
• The safest way to pay is inside with cash.

The department searches for illegal credit card skimmers during its regular inspections of more than 400,000 fuel pumps statewide, officials noted.

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