“Skimming” is a type of fraud that involves the theft of personal information when a credit or debit card is used for a transaction. Criminals use the stolen data to make fraudulent charges either online or with a counterfeit credit/debit card.
To help protect fuel and credit/debit cards from being skimmed, security officials recommend instructing employees to always take the following steps when purchasing fuel. These actions can reveal indications of a skimming device.
- Notice the physical condition of the card reader.
- Look for signs of tampering, broken seals, signs of prying and indications of alterations.
- Does anything look odd? For instance, are there different colors, materials or graphics, discoloration in certain areas or tape or adhesive residue?
- Does anything look loose, crooked, scratched or damaged?
- Examine the card reader for any unusual additions or equipment on the keyboard, slot or sides.
- Check the pumps next to the one they plan on using to determine if theirs looks different than the others.
- Notice if the card reader doesn’t accept the card smoothly.
- Scrutinize the card reader for a hidden camera that may be installed on it or nearby. Cameras are used to record a customer’s entry of their PIN into the reader keypad.
- Be conscious of their surroundings when using a card reader and cover the keypad when entering a PIN number.
If there is any doubt, fueling should not be done at the location, say officials. As a courtesy, alert the fuel facility to the problems.
