Last updated on February 3rd, 2016 at 03:26 pm
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) reports convenience retailers are finding skimming devices on dispensers, with reports coming in from Louisiana to New England.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Weights and Measures division, the U.S. Secret Service and local sheriff’s offices continue their investigations into skimming devices found at gasoline pumps. Since June 2015, 25 skimming devices have been found throughout Louisiana, containing a total of 801 consumer credit and debit card numbers.
Skimming devices are typically easily recognized when the gas pump credit card machines are opened because there is an additional attachment to the machine. However, a new type of device is replacing the entire credit card reader, making detection more difficult.
The New England area also is seeing a rash of skimming devices at the pumps.
In Goffstown, New Hampshire, a service technician alerted police to a homemade skimming device found inside the pump at a Circle K location. Police in Hingham, Massachusetts, were alerted to a skimming device found on a pump at a Gulf station; a technician who had been called to repair the card reader discovered the device.
“Through the focused efforts of alert retailers and state inspectors, we are making real headway on this criminal activity,” said Gray Taylor, executive director of Conexxus. “NACS and Conexxus urge all of our membership to keep tagging, inspecting and validating their island payment devices and double their vigilance should a skimmer be found in their market.”
Conexxus and NACS are providing fuel retailers with tools to proactively initiate and maintain effective payment security procedures that help reduce the occurrence of skimming. They recently hosted a free webinar that highlighted the processes and tools available to protect dispenser terminals from intrusion and skimmers. Representatives from Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Wayne Fueling Systems conducted the webinar.
