Last updated on December 14th, 2015 at 03:26 pm
Over the past few months, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has received news of payment card skimmers being found in dispenser payment terminals. Thieves are increasingly exploiting unprotected dispenser terminals to “skim” card data from customer payment cards used to purchase fuel.
Retailers who have been victims of this crime face financial and brand damage, as their customers and their issuers seek to recover damages caused by these breaches. State regulators also are increasing inspections of dispenser terminals, while state legislators consider new laws aimed at requiring dispenser terminals be secure.
On Dec. 17, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., NACS and Conexxus will host a webinar highlighting the processes and tools available to protect dispenser terminals from intrusion and skimmers. The webinar is free to all retailers. Representatives from Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Wayne Fueling Systems and the NACS We Care program will conduct the webinar.
“Skimmers are a crime perpetrated against the retailer, to be certain,” said Gray Taylor, executive director of Conexxus. “But unlike other crimes, skimmers are also a crime against the retailers’ customers that takes place at the retailer’s location. The good news is that this risk is easily mitigated, if retailers follow some simple steps.”
Since 2011, the Conexxus (then PCATS) Data Security Committee has worked with major dispenser manufacturers to create a portfolio of resources that provide guidance for retailers seeking to reduce the risk of skimmers being installed on their fuel islands. Daily inspections of dispenser payment terminals sealed with serial numbered, tamper-evident tape are part of the tools retailers can use to keep their customers and businesses safe from skimmer thieves.
