Beware Of Gas Pump Skimmers, Florida Officials Warn

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Whether the plan is to travel across town for a backyard barbecue or across the state for an overnight getaway, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs is warning motorists to be wary at the gas pump. Gas pump skimmers designed to help thieves swipe credit and debit card information remain an ongoing concern across the Sunshine State, according to Commissioner Adam Putnam.

Since 2017 began, Putnam’s department has found and removed 185 skimmers from gas pumps across the state. While that might not seem like many in a state Florida’s size, the damage a single skimmer can do makes it a concern, Putnam said Friday.

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“The number of consumers victimized by each skimmer is estimated to be about 100 per device, with an average of $1,000 stolen from each victim,” an email from Putnam’s office said.

Skimmers are electronic devices that are placed on gas pumps to allow thieves to record credit and debit card information. Skimmers are generally placed inside the gas pump cabinets, making them very difficult for motorists to spot before they pay.

To avoid being victimized, Putnam recommends motorists consider the following tips when fueling up:

• Pay in cash inside the store whenever possible to avoid using a credit or debit card in the first place
• If using a card at the pump, be sure to check to see if the dispenser cabinet is closed and hasn’t been tampered with
• Use pumps closer to the front of a store since they are harder targets for thieves
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card because fraud protection tends to be better and money isn’t immediately drained from an account
• If using a debit card, be sure to run it as credit to avoid having to enter the personal identification number (PIN)
• Always monitor bank and credit card accounts for unauthorized charges
• If a charge looks wrong, contact the bank or credit card company immediately

Putnam and the Florida Legislature teamed up last year to change laws to provide better protection for consumers at gas pumps. Some of the changes include stiffer penalties for thieves who place skimmers at pumps and requiring gas stations to make sure self-service gas pumps use certain security measures that are meant to protect consumers.

Motorists who encounter gas pumps that appear to have been tampered with are urged to tell the station manager or local law enforcement. Calls may also be placed to the department’s consumer protection information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office