NYPD Weekly Crime Prevention Tip – Credit/Debit Card Skimming at Gas Pumps

Credit/Debit Card Skimming at Gas Pumps

Please be alert when paying at the gas pump for Credit Card Skimming Devices.

These devices are being found at gas stations throughout New York City and surrounding counties.

Reports:

• In January 2014 thirteen defendants were charged with using card skimmers installed at gas stations too steal more than $2 million from customers throughout the southern US.

• In July Detective Jeffrey Marshall of Nassau County PD stated that three different businesses within a two minute drive from the stations had cases of employees skimming cards.
• Skimming devices are being found at gas pumps throughout the U.S and in one recent check-up, 180 pumps had been hijacked.
• A former Credit Card hacker, claiming to have made thousands of dollars a day in cash, who trained US Secrete Service instead of going to prison, stated that he preferred targeting gas stations over ATM machines.

The following NYC gas stations had skimming devices:

• February 2014: one incident Hess station in Queens – 134-15 Cross Bay Blvd.

• April 2014: two incidents Sunoco stations Queens – 1248 Coney Island Ave and 1907 Cropsey Ave.

• August 2014: one incident Mobil Queens – 43-07 Astoria Blvd.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

• Choose a pump near the cashier.  Experts say skimmers prefer to target pumps in the shadows.

• Inspect the gas pump reader before using it.

• If you do suspect a skimming device, call 911.

• If a device is discovered refrain from touching, CALL 911.

• When possible utilize cash, instead of your credit/debit card. 

For a printable version of the above information, you may view it: HERE.