Gas Pump Skimmers

Comment

Comment by Brenda Lewis on September 18, 2011 at 1:52pm

My regular gas station gives a 5 cent to 15 cent per gallon discount when you pay with their credit card so, needless to say, I always use the credit card when buying gas. As was stated before, it's much safer to use a credit card than a debit card. If someone skims your debit card, it can wipe out your working cash and leave you SOL. At least with credit card use, your own cash isn't affected, and the bank eats the loss. Either way, this is just one more thing we must be very wary about. Thanks for posting the video!

Comment by Girlriders - Katie on September 12, 2011 at 5:48pm

Good advice Acalliste.  I hate credit cards, but I love my debit card so I need to think about this.

Comment by acalliste on September 12, 2011 at 2:37pm

Well, when I said "familiar" I meant specific pumps at the same exact station that I have been using for years, not so much the same kind of station. I have lived in the same house for 13 years & going to the same station. So if the pump looks different in any way, I am suspicious. Though if the crooks are opening the pumps and adding a skimmer to the inside, that is a lot harder to detect and may not be discovered for quite a while. So there is no foolproof way to avoid it. It's a risk you take when using a card. But I try to minimize my risk by being observant and not trusting unfamiliar pumps any farther than I can throw them and not using my debit card there. It also helps to have a good relationship with your bank. If you see a charge you didn't make call and have them do a chargeback. They should hotcard the compromised card number and issue you a new one, and if they are worth a crap give you provisional credit while they investigate.

Comment by Girlriders - Katie on September 12, 2011 at 2:08pm

Good point about credit vs debit. As far as familiar stations, the one that got my friend for a $1000 was a brand new Racetrack on a major intersection in Brandon. An attendant may help, but it could happen at any station.

Comment by acalliste on September 12, 2011 at 1:54pm

I use a credit card when out riding in areas away from home where I am unfamiliar with the pumps. If they skim a credit card, it doesn't have as much of an impact on me, and I know I'll be credited back for any fraud. I do worry about using my debit card at gas pumps or sketchy POS terminals. So I usually only do debit at attended pumps (costco) or the gas stations near my house that I am very familiar with, and other places I know well & do business with often.