Hess says credit card stealing devices have been found on gas station pumps from Largo to Holiday.
If you've filled up at a Hess station and later noticed unauthorized charges on your account, you could receive access to a service that can help fix the problem.
The following is a statement issued by Hess on Friday:
In recent months, there have been attempts to steal credit and debit card numbers at service stations in South Florida using so-called "skimmer" devices. Criminals tamper with gas pumps and place devices into their internal mechanisms to try to illegally intercept and record customer credit and debit card information as the cards are swiped at the pump.
Unfortunately, several Hess stations have been targeted by these illegal activities. As soon as we have found evidence of such attempts, we have notified law enforcement. To protect customers, we continue to intensify security measures to help prevent future incidents. We also continue to work with law enforcement agencies, including the United States Secret Service, as they pursue these criminals.
We want to ensure that our customers are alerted to the possibility that their credit or debit card information may have been compromised. Below is a list of stations where we have uncovered evidence suggesting that customer credit or debit card information may have been compromised, together with the pumps affected and the dates and approximate times through which the card information may have been vulnerable, based on our knowledge to date.
We believe the information at risk is the data contained on the magnetic strip on a payment card, which includes the customer's name, account number, and expiration date. We do not believe Social Security Numbers are included on the magnetic strip. Hess does not store payment card account numbers on its systems, and these incidents did not involve hacking into Hess systems.
While we cannot be sure whether any customers' payment card information was actually obtained by perpetrators in any of these incidents, we urge customers who may have paid by credit or debit card at the specified stations and pumps listed below in the days immediately prior to the time and date noted to:
- Carefully review credit and debit card statements for unauthorized charges or debits and immediately report any suspicious ones to the card issuer.
- Be on the lookout for any calls or letters from retailers or creditors regarding merchandise or services not ordered.
- Report any missing credit and debit card statements to the card issuer immediately.
Customers can also contact their card issuer to alert them that their information may have been vulnerable so the card issuer can be vigilant in monitoring for any unusual charges.
We have set up a customer information line (1-866-849-2790) to answer any questions customers may have. Hess will also provide, free of charge, AllClear ID's Identity Repair™ service to any customers who suspect there may be fraudulent activity on their payment card account as a result of paying at one of the pumps listed in the days leading up to the date and time indicated. This service will help customers address any issues of fraud on their accounts. More information is available through the customer information line.
The list of incidents is as follows:
- 5019 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach (February 20, 2014, at approx. 3 pm in pump 3)
- 4 N. Indian Rocks Rd., Largo (February 20, 2014, at approx. 12:30 pm in pump 8)
- 33600 US 19N, Palm Harbor (February 20, 2014, at approx. 3:30 pm in pump 13)
- 3965 S. Congress Avenue, Lake Worth (February 21, approx. 11 am in pump 16, and February 22, 2014, at approx. 12:30 pm in pump 14)
- 14624 Military Trail, Delray Beach (February 21, 2014, at approx. 10 am in pump 1)
- 2450 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach (February 21, at approx. 12:30 pm in pump 9 and March 21, 2014, at approx. 11 am in pump 7)
- 2577 Harn Blvd., Clearwater (February 21, approx. 1:30 pm in pump 8, and February 28, 2014, at approx. 4 am in pump 9)
- 2023 US Highway 19, Holiday (February 21, 2014, at approx. 1:30 pm in pump 13)
- 4287 NW Federal Hwy., Jensen Beach (February 21, at approx. 2 pm in pump 1 and February 26, 2014, at approx. 10 am in pump 5)
- 150 North State Rd., Margate (February 21, 2014, at approx. 11 am in pumps 1 and 6)
- 2300 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale (February 25, 2014, at approx. 4 pm in pump 2)
- 100 SW Monterey Rd., Stuart (February 27, 2014, at approx. 8:30 am in pump 1)
- 6840 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach (February 28, 2014, at approx. 10:30 am in pump 1)
- 5798 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater (March 10, 2014, at approx. 9:30 pm in pump 1)
- 900 E. Sample Road, Pompano (April 9, 2014, at approx. 7:30 am in pump 7)
- 15260 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers (April 10, 2014, at approx. 7:30 pm in pumps 1 and 8)
Our customers and their protection is our priority. We regret any inconvenience that this criminal activity may have caused any of our customers.
Hess is the leading independent gasoline convenience store marketer on the East Coast, with branded sites in 16 East Coast states from New Hampshire to Florida. For more information, visit www.hessexpress.com.
