Paying at the pump could cost you.
Credit card fraud is becoming a common crime in the Mid-South. The latest place–Germantown.
Germantown police Lieutenant Mike Fisher says crooks can slip skimmers onto credit card machines at gas pumps.
Skimmers are devices that read credit and debit card information. Some are even equipped with cameras.
It’s nearly impossible to catch or track the person responsible because they typically wait weeks or months before using the stolen information.
Lt. Fisher encourages people to pay close attention to the pump they’re using.
“Pay attention to where you’re doing business. Look at the machine you’re using. Does it look like there’s anything out of place? Does it look like the card reader has been altered? Is there a safety seal for instance on the gas pump that you’re using? They’ll often have tamper resistant seals on them after they’ve been serviced. Just anything out of the ordinary…you might want to use a different pump.”
The best way to avoid becoming victim is by paying with cash when possible.
