The state is checking gas pumps in Habersham County and the rest of Georgia for electronic devices designed to steal your credit card information.
State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black says they’ve added the search for “skimmers” to their regular inspections. “Our fuel inspectors work hard to ensure travelers throughout the state receive the quality gasoline they pay for,” Black says. “We are proud to extend those consumer protection efforts to include protecting our consumers from identity theft at the pump.”
So far, no illegal credit card/debit card “skimmers” were found on pumps in Habersham County.
Angela Holland, VP of Services with the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores says businesses are also on the lookout for the scamming “skimmers,” “Store owners are aware of this issue and are putting measures in place to help protect consumers. Retailers use security tape, alarms and frequent pump checks to keep consumer’ information safe.” She says the GDA inspections will add another layer of security.
While they’ve yet to find any problems at Georgia pumps, leaders warn that advancing technology means increased opportunity for thieves.
GDA offers the following advice to reduce your risk of identity theft at the gas pump –
- Pay in cash inside the store to ensure the credit card information stays safe.
- Check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with.
- Use a gas pump closer to the front of the store. Thieves often place “skimmers” at the gas pumps farther away from the store so they are not noticed as quickly.
- Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards have better fraud protection, and the money is not deducted immediately from an account.
- If using a debit card at the pump, choose to run it as a credit card instead of a debit card. That way, the PIN number is safe.
- Monitor bank accounts regularly to spot any unauthorized charges.
