CONSUMER CORNER: Watch Out For Card Skimmers

April 27, 2025

Provided by the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection:

Card skimming theft can affect anyone who uses their credit or debit cards at ATMs, gas stations, restaurants or retail stores. A skimmer is a device installed on card readers that collects card numbers.

Thieves will later recover and use this information to make fraudulent purchases. Skimmers are not usually spotted right away, but with a quick physical inspection before swiping or inserting a card, there are some telltale signs that a skimmer has been installed.

Skimmers are most often found at ATMs and gas stations, but it’s possible for retail stores or restaurants to be involved in a skimming scam as well. Sometimes a tiny camera is planted to record cardholders entering a PIN number into an ATM. PIN number can also be stolen via fake keypads placed over a real ATM keypad. Skimmers and related technology can be hard to spot because thieves will attempt to make their devices blend in or match the style of the card readers.

Gas pumps should have a security tape or sticker over the cabinet panel. If the tape looks ripped or broken, avoid using the card reader because a thief may have tampered with it. Try looking inside the card reader to see if anything is already inserted, if there is, it may be a thin plastic circuit board that can steal card information. https://www.forbes.com/

Here are a few tips to help you avoid a skimmer when you gas up:

Make sure the gas pump panel is closed and doesn’t show signs of tampering. Many stations now put security seals over the cabinet panel. If the pump panel is opened, the label will read “void.”

Try to wiggle the card reader before you put in your card. If it moves, report it to the attendant. Then use a different pump.

If you use a debit card at the pump, run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN. That way, the PIN is safe, and the money isn’t deducted immediately from your account.

When fueling your vehicle, the Bucks County Department of Weights & Measures suggest using a gas pump that is in view of a gas station attendant or cashier and in a more visible location when possible. In our experience, the outer perimeter gas pumps are more likely to have a skimmer device as they are not as visible to the attendant.

If your credit card has been compromised, report it to your bank or card issuer as well as local law enforcement. Federal law limits your liability if your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, but your liability may depend on how quickly you report the loss or theft. https://consumer.ftc.gov/

To learn how to protect yourself from scams and fraud, please visit our website at; www.buckscounty.gov/cp.

Monthly Fraud Alerts brought to you by Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force 24-hour hotline: 1-800-490-8505, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office: 215-348-6344, A Woman’s Place (AWP): 1-800-220-8116, Bucks County Area Agency on Aging: 267-880-5700, Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection: 215-348-6060, Bucks County Coroner’s Office: 215-348-3852, Bucks County Register of Wills: 215-348-6265, Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA): 1-800-675-6900, and U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services/OIG: 1-800-447-8477.

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