Video: Protecting Yourself From “Skimming”

by Victoria Bailey

LOUISVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)—Gas prices may be fluctuating but on the national level customers are finding a trip to the pump may cost a little more than just a tank of gas.

Card skimming is a growing concern for motorists, especially people who travel and stop at unfamiliar gas stations.

It’s a lot more convenient to just pay at the pump but what many people are discovering is it’s not always the safest.

Card skimmers can come in many forms and can be attached to a pump with out any detection.

“New skimmers now are no longer in the card reader they are in the gas pumps. so that puts us back to the owners of the business being more vigilant. If some body comes up, you know who your repair people are you know who your service people are for your gas pumps anybody else who tamper with that gas pump to the point where they need to open it… that needs to be reported immediately,” said Louisville Chief Of Police L.M. Claiborne.

Skimmers could provide thieves as much as 3 billion dollars a year.

With such alarming numbers Fair propane gas system Owner Johnny Fair says they take active precautions to ensure the safety of their customers such as;

performing daily checks of the pumps, instructing attendants to be vigilant while on duty and constant surveillance of the gas station.

“If the card reader is shaky. If it’s difficult to put you card in or if there’s anything broken on the machine at all Law enforcement says that could be an indication that a skImmer is present,”said Victoria Bailey.

“If the business owner sees there is an issue with the gas pump they should notify us immediately because it may not be the best idea to remove the skimmer. It may be best to wait and see if they return to collect the information,”said Claiborne.

Claiborn says protecting your personal identity should be a top priority.

“In this modern time that we live in where convenience is key. We have to be really really vigilant to protect our identities. Does not matter whether it’s your credit card, your name and date of birth, social security number all those things that the modern thieves are using to commit crime,” said Claiborne.

Skimmers are not just a gas pump issue. They’ve have been found in restaurants, retail stores and ATMs

For more on how to keep your information safe www.mdac.ms.gov