Ga. Ag Dept. Watching For Card Skimmers at Fuel Pumps

With the official kickoff to the summer travel season here, the Georgia Department of Agriculture is conducting a campaign to check Georgia gas pumps for “skimmers,” devices that capture consumers’ credit and debit card information, in an effort to protect consumers’ wallets.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is conducting the skimmer operation in conjunction with the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores as part of the department’s routine fuel dispenser inspections.

To date, no illegal credit card skimmers have been discovered on gas pumps in the state, but as the use of advancing technology increases, so does the opportunity for thieves.

Ag Department officials encouraged consumers to consider a few steps that can mitigate the risk of identity theft while pumping gas.

Those include paying in cash inside the store to ensure the credit card information stays safe, checking to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with, using a gas pump closer to the front of the store because thieves often place skimmers at the gas pumps farther away from the store so they are not noticed as quickly, using a credit card instead of a debit card because credit cards have better fraud protection and the money is not deducted immediately from an account, and monitoring bank accounts regularly to spot any unauthorized charges.

Consumers who suspect their credit or bank card number has been compromised should report it immediately to authorities and their credit card company or banking institution.

Complaints can also be reported to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Fuels and Measures Division at (404) 656-3605.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said that the state’s fuel inspectors work hard to ensure travelers throughout the state receive the quality gasoline they pay for and adds the department is proud to extend those consumer protection efforts to include protecting consumers from identity theft at the pump.

Meanwhile, Georgia Association of Convenience Stores Vice President of Association Services Angela Holland said that their group is thankful to be able to have the Agriculture Department put another set of eyes on the pumps, adding that store owners are aware of this issue and are putting measures in place to help protect consumers.

Holland said that retailers use security tape, alarms and frequent pump checks to keep consumer’ information safe.