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Credit card skimmers at gas stations and ATMs on the rise

In Michigan, authorities are looking for people who have been planting the device in gas pumps. Investigators say the skimmer can steal credit card information from thousands of customers.

In 2014, skimmers were blamed for stealing $2 billion, and there are similar cases occurring in Texas.

Craig VanBuren, the Consumer Protection Section at Michigan’s Department of Agriculture, said that what they have been finding since August has blown their minds.

Inspectors have found a number of skimmers in a week, and they have found them in large cities and small towns.

When a skimmer is installed, it secretly records a customer’s credit or debit card information and steals their identity.

Thieves are able to access gas pumps with master keys, which they purchase online. Then they secretly attach the wires that lead to a computer chip.

Customers’ transactions go through as normal, but at the same time they are doing their transaction, the skimmer is capturing all of their credit card information. In order to obtain the device, the thieves either return to get it or they can access the information remotely.

Aside from Michigan and Texas, Florida has experienced credit card skimming. In Southern Florida, two Miami residents are facing federal charges for allegedly installing credit card skimmers at gas pumps.

The two residents, Anthony Nunovero and Edelso Sanchez, were indicted on November 13 and they are accused of stealing around 2,000 credit and debit cards to create fake versions.

This past Monday, a homemade Bluetooth credit card skimmer was found at Peto’s Travel Center in Roanoke, Louisiana. Authorities said a customer tried to pay for gas at the pump, but their card was denied and they went inside to pay with their card and it was successful.

A service technician was called to the store and they discovered the skimming device attached to the fuel pump.

Over the last few weeks, credit card skimmers were found at a number of gas pumps throughout Louisville, Ohio, but no arrests have been made.

gas stations can use security seals to protect their pumps and they can replace locks. Customers can protect themselves by paying inside or by paying with cash. They can also monitor their bank accounts regularly.

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