Gas pump credit card skimmers: How to protect yourself

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• published: 14 Jun 2016
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WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio (Larry Davis) - For the third time in less than two weeks, a credit card skimmer turned up inside a Butler County gas pump. It's clearly a crime that's not going away, despite the extra attention from law enforcement. Many of the skimmers have been found at gas stations along the stretch of Union Center Boulevard with easy access to the interstate. One such station has been hit twice, and consumers are being advised to be watchful and be careful. P.M. Singh was making the rounds at the Marathon Gas Station on Cincinnati-Dayton Road on Wednesday. He was checking the pumps to see if skimmers had been placed inside. A week and a half ago, a skimmer was found inside one of those pumps. Just recently, one of Singh's co-workers showed us how criminals are accessing pumps with a universal key and attaching the skimmer to acquire credit card information. The skimming of gas pumps has customers concerned. Customers are advised not to use a debit card and pay with cash inside the gas station. Gas station owners are being asked to check their pumps frequently and place stickers on them to show customers they have been inspected for possible tampering. The Butler County Auditor has added three more inspectors to the team that randomly inspect the more than 130 gas stations in the county. One of those inspectors found a skimmer on Tuesday at the B.P. on Union Centre. This criminal method of ripping people off makes customers like Priya Richmonds angry "It's like you can't even just go around and do normal, everyday stuff," said Priya. We told you about those universal keys sold online that open pumps. Well the auditor's office says there's a unique device that can open pumps like these at the BP station and someone has figured out to go about it. That in itself is troubling. A couple other tips to stop skimmers: Try to use the pumps closest to business entrance, where it's in plain sight of the clerk and always monitor your bank and credit card statements for fraudulent charges.