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State: How To Avoid Gas Pump Card Skimmers
May 28, 2018
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam is providing Floridians and visitors simple tips to avoid identity-stealing card skimmers placed on gas pumps.
“Floridians and visitors shouldn’t have to worry about losing their hard-earned money to scammers who prey on victims at gas pumps. A few simple steps can help prevent identity theft,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
Travelers can take the following steps to avoid skimmers at gas stations:
- Pay in cash inside the store to ensure credit card information stays safe.
- Check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with.
- Use a gas pump closer to the front of the store. Thieves often place skimmer at the gas pumps farther away from the store so they are not noticed as quickly.
- Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards have better fraud protection, and the money is not deducted immediately from an account.
- If using a debit card at the pump, choose to run it as a credit card instead of putting a PIN number in. That way, the PIN number is safe.
- Monitor bank accounts regularly to spot any unauthorized charges.
- Consumers who suspect their credit card number has been compromised should report it immediately to authorities and their credit card company.
Consumers who suspect that a gas pump has been tampered with should contact the gas station manager, local law enforcement or the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
Comments
2 Responses to “State: How To Avoid Gas Pump Card Skimmers”
Millions of people are held hostage and are brought to their knees by scumbags who think they are entitled to the fruit of other peoples’ labor. If caught – an automatic life sentence would be a good start to turn this country around and give copy cats something to think about.
Most people think that the skimmers are on the outside of the reader. as I learned in the arrest of the two guys in PCB story, the vast majority of skimmer are inside the front panel of the gas pump and undetectable by the consumer. Look for tamper tape on the pump. but really, use a credit card. you will never have to pay for fraud , just the inconvenience of waiting for a new number and card. If you use a debit card you have wait to get your money back from the bank.