card reader skimmer_1.jpeg
This is a card skimmer that weights and measures inspectors found inside a gas pump in Montgomery County. Medina County Auditor Mike Kovack is offering tips to help residents avoid being scammed at the gas pump. (Credit: Montgomery County Auditor's Office)
(Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Auditor's Office)
MEDINA, Ohio - In response to several phone calls from local residents, Medina County Auditor Mike Kovack is offering some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of credit card theft at the gas station.
The auditor's Weights and Measures inspectors recently discovered a device used to steal credit card information on a Montville Township gas pump.
The Auditor's Office has stepped up inspections of gas pumps to help prevent skimmers from gaining a foothold in Medina County.
"Done properly, there is no way to tell if a skimming device has been installed on a pump besides opening up that pump for inspection," Kovack said.
While you can't see a credit card skimmer just by looking at a pump, there are ways to help protect yourself from scammers, he said.
Here are four tips:
* Use a credit card instead of a debit card to purchase gas. You aren't liable for fraudulent charges on your credit card, but if scammers retrieve your debit card information, they may be able to drain your entire bank account.
Additionally, most credit card companies will alert you to unusual use of your card. If you have a credit card with the new microchip, use it - these cards are more secure.
* Use gas pumps that are within the line of sight of the clerk at the gas station. Thieves are less likely to try to install skimmers on pumps that can be seen from the cash register.
* Inspect the pump before you insert your card. If there is tape near the credit card reader or the device is loose, don't use it. If there are any indications of a forced entry to the pump, avoid it.
Also, if you see an unusual sign on the pump, steer clear. Thieves are attaching signs to some pumps giving alternative directions that allow them to skim your credit card data.
* Always check your credit card statements. Go online occasionally between your monthly statements to check for fraudulent purchases. Report any fraud to your credit card company immediately.
If you have any questions or suspect the use of a skimming device, contact the Auditor's Office at 330-725-9764 or your local law enforcement agency.