TAMPA, Fla.—With the holiday season in full swing, people are hitting the gas pumps before hitting the road.
That could also mean scammers are using credit card skimmers to grab your information at the pump.
Tips from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on avoiding skimmers:
- Pay in cash inside the store to ensure 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.
- 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 entering a PIN number. That way, the PIN number is safe.
- Monitor bank accounts regularly to spot any unauthorized charges.
- Consumers who suspect their credit card number has been compromised should report it immediately to authorities and their credit card company.
Credit card skimmers have been found at gas stations in Pasco County and Sarasota this month.
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