Skimming Device Found At Exxon In Sterling

STERLING, VA — A skimming device was found in a gas pump last week in the 23000 block of Pacific Boulevard, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. An employee at the Exxon station at 23050 Pacific Boulevard confirmed to Patch this was the station where the skimmer was found.

He referred other questions to a person he identified as the manger of the station. When reached Monday, that person declined to comment. Sometime between last Wednesday and Friday, police say a maintenance worker found a skimming device inside a gas pump.

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Such skimming devices are designed to steal customers' debit and credit card numbers. To help protect yourself from credit card fraud, authorities recommend:

• Regularly checking your financial statement for any unusual or fraudulent charges and report them to the card company immediately.
• Use credit cards to make purchases versus debit cards, as it can be more difficult to have your bank funds reimbursed.
• Inspect all credit cards readers prior to sliding your card. You may not be able to see a skimming device but look for pry marks, scratches or other signs of tampering. Report suspicious activity to police.
• If you feel you’ve been victimized by Skimming/Scammers, report it to police online through the Financial Crimes Online Reporting (FiCOR) system.

Not sure what a card-skimming device looks like? This website shows various skimmers on ATMs, so you know what to look for in the future.

Image via Pixabay