STAFFORD, VA - The Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards (PCATS) has released a "Best Practices Guide" for securing fuel dispensers and dispenser payment terminals from fraudsters. The guide was created by the Education Working Group of PCATS?? Data Security Committee in response to a spate of incidences of thieves installing card skimmers in dispensers earlier this year.

"Convenience and petroleum retail is not considered a hot bed of card data breaches by the card brands, but our industry certainly understands that our primary threat vector is on the island," said Gray Taylor, executive director of PCATS and card payments consultant to NACS. "A large skimming breach at the pump can destroy a small operator??s brand image, and financially ruin him ?" and this is clearly preventable."

The Guide outlines several low-cost and procedural methods of securing dispensers from intrusion - required for installing skimmers or fuel meter tampering. "Thieves work on the same ROI principles as retailers. If a site has secure dispensers, the thief will simply move on to a site without security," said Trinette Huber, manager of information privacy and security at Sinclair Petroleum and PCATS Education Working Group lead. "Educating employees, and establishing solid procedures around data security are an inexpensive, first line defense against thieves. This Guide provides a clear starting point for this challenge."

The Working Group enlisted the help of Dresser Wayne and Gilbarco Veeder-Root, the world??s largest dispenser manufacturers, to assist in creating the Guide ?" click here to download.