Combatting Pump Skimmers with GPS Tracking

2 Jul 2015

Identity thieves are everywhere, even at the gas pump. Using skimmers, thieves can purloin debit and credit card data when consumers fill up and pay at the pump.

Police have turned to GPS tracking monitoring systems to help them catch the thieves. In California, law enforcement has successfully caught and prosecuted thieves by using the devices.

How It Works

Skimmers aren’t new and are often associated with ATM fraud. But gas pump skimmers add a layer of trouble. They are undetectable to people filling their tanks because the device is hidden inside the pump payment unit.

When you use a credit or debit card on a pump with a skimmer, it records all your private data. There are two types of devices, one using wireless and the other requiring the thief to remove the unit in order to get access to the data. This was what the California crooks were using.

Police added a tiny GPS to the skimmers and put them back in place in the pump. When the criminal came back to pick up the skimmers, police were able to track him. The GPS pinged the new location of the thief every 6 seconds, making it easy for the police to follow him. He was caught red-handed with a number of skimmers and it was later determined he was tied to organized crime.

Widespread Problem

In a check of over 6,100 gas stations in Florida, more than 80 had skimmers. Though most were at stations along main highways, a few were found in rural areas.

In Denver recently, police discovered that more than 30 stations close to major roadways had skimmers. Prompted by a local bank, police and U.S. Secret Service agents led the investigation. Large numbers of skimmers have also been found in Arizona.

Safety Measures

Experts recommend sticking to cash, or if you prefer to pay at the pump, a credit card but not debit cards. The problem is that getting your debit card data can allow thieves to empty your checking account, resulting in bounced checks while you wait for the bank to figure out how to handle the problem.

An additional problem with debit cards is the fact that though the Electronic Fund Transfer Act limits debit card liability to $50, you need to get in touch with your bank within two days. If you wait more than that but less than 60 days, your liability goes up to $500. And if you wait longer than 60 days, you are out all the money the thieves take.

Thanks to the Truth in Lending Act, consumers have a liability limit of $50 once the credit card is reported lost or stolen, and many banks will waive this. That is the sum total of the liability, unlike debit cards.

The safest place to get gas is at the pump closest to the store or the cashier cubicle. Thieves tend to place the skimmers at the pumps farthest away from the store.


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