You must be feeling the pinch of increase in the prices of gas. High prices are same for everyone and you cannot escape. However, you may be facing a more devastating trouble while filling gas at the pumps – identity theft.
Identity thieves at the gas pumps try to install an electronic device called skimmer. It is a tiny device installed outside the gas pump, particularly on the payment area. You may be in a hurry while filling gas and may not look at the pump carefully. Such skimmers may be in the form of tiny cameras to capture the pin numbers of customers or they may be in the form of fake keypads mounted on the top of the original ones to capture the keystrokes and the pin code.
Thieves take advantage of the fact that there are no attendants at the pumps. They will keep on collecting information on credit cards with these skimmers and either will sell this information to others or use such information to make purchases on-line. Sometimes they may make duplicate cards with the account numbers of the victims. In any way, they will siphon your money very quickly.
This fraud recently became visible and may spread countrywide if the pump owners are not careful.
Well you cannot do anything to prevent installation of skimmers at the pumps, but you can certainly protect yourself by taking the following precautions -
1. Avoid using ATM cards at the pumps – The safest form of payment at a gas pump is always cash but it may not be feasible all the time. However at least you can limit the risk by avoiding the use of ATM cards. These cards are linked directly to your checking account and it is very hard to recover the money once it goes out of your account. Even if the fraud is detected on your account, the account may be closed or frozen by your bank and you will not have access unless the matter is resolved.
Instead of ATM cards, you should use credit cards. Fraud with credit cards is much easier to handle because the credit card companies will take quick actions to prevent losses. Also by law, your liability for fraudulent use of credit card is limited to $50. This may not put a big hardship for you.
2. Always try to select a pump which is close to the cashier. Installing skimmers on these pumps may be difficult for the identity thieves. If you are unable to get a pump close to the cashier, you can wait for some time but never take a pump which is far away from the cashier.
3. You have to be careful about the payment. If you use only one gas station most of the times, it will be easier for you to get accustomed with the features of the pumps there. Just have a look at the pad and around that place to find out whether there is anything suspicious. If you suspect anything, immediately point it out to the cashier, explaining your doubts.
4. Always select a pump with a sealed sticker. In this manner, you can reduce the risk of using tampered pump. If you feel the seal of the pump is broken or slightly damaged, avoid using it and inform about it to the cashier. If on a particular gas station you find many pumps with the damaged seal, avoid using such gas station.
5. You should check your credit card statements routinely. By doing that, you will be able to know quickly about the unauthorized entries. Realizing quickly the clues of identity theft is important for preventing huge damages.
You cannot avoid filling gas at the pumps. However, if you are watchful and particular about some small things, you can reduce the risk of identity theft to a great extent.
By: Chintamani Abhyankar