Skimming Device Found At Tysons Exxon Gas Station

VIENNA, VA -- A skimming device was found at an Exxon Gas Station at 8021 Leesburg Pike in Tysons Tuesday, police say.

The gas station was alerted to potential fraud by a credit card company on Friday, May 26. Around around 11:52 a.m. Tuesday, employees located a skimming device inside a gas pump. Financial Crimes detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department are investigating.

Skimming devices are attached to machines that have card readers. The device collects financial information, including PIN numbers, when an individual slides a card through the reader.

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Financial Crime detectives offer the following tips to protect yourself from skimming devices:

• Inspect the machine. Devices may not be visible, but signs of pry marks, scratching or tampering could indicate presence of a skimming device.
• Use your credit card rather than a debit/ATM card to avoid PIN numbers from being recorded. Plus, bank funds are often more difficult to get reimbursed.
• Shield your PIN number from nearby individuals.
• Regularly check bank and card statements for fraudulent activity, even for small charges. Call your bank or credit card company right away if you suspect fraudulent activity.
• Use ATMs or machines in areas with security cameras.

To report information, call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or submit a tip online through Crime Solvers. To report a financial crime in Fairfax County, go online to the Financial Crimes Online Reporting (FiCOR) system.

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