HIGHLAND COUNTY, Fla. - Florida gasoline stations have had more than their share of pay-at-the-pump skimming incidents recently, BankInfoSecurity.com reports. For example, Highlands County, Fla., has seen more than 120 local victims reporting card fraud with more than $30,000 in losses. Polk County, which borders Highlands, also has reported skimming crimes that, combined with Highlands, brings the amount stolen to nearly $200,000.
"Due to the amount of the loss and the span of the crimes, we will be attempting to seek federal prosecution," said Highlands Police Sgt. Brian Kramer. The two counties have partnered with the U.S. Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to solve the attacks.
Pay-at-the-pump skimming seems to explode during the summer months with more travelers on the road. But that doesn€™t mean paying with plastic at a gasoline station pump is unsafe.
Gray Taylor, PCATS executive director and NACS consultant on payment issues, pointed out that skimming devices at pay-at-the-pump are really a low percentage of such card fraud. "Most convenience stores are concerned about pay-at-the-pump skimming," he said. "But they can only focus on so much."
NACS recommends upgrading pumps so that each has its own unique key instead of the universal key system currently in use. "There are 900,000 pay-at-the-pumps out there, and, literally, I have four keys in my desk that will open up every dispenser in the United States that has not been upgraded," said Taylor.
John Buzzard with FICO€™s Card Alert Service said that ATMs still receive the lion€™s share of skimming attacks, adding that pay-at-the-pump skimming is not as widespread as media coverage would indicate.
"Fraud is just so cyclical in nature that each year we see a different entry point, and, for the most part, the criminals just switch back and forth between what's highly publicized and what isn't," said Buzzard. "The criminals essentially dust off an old fraud scam, like pump skimming, when other card and PIN capture schemes are too hot. Gas pumps are not big right now at all, but we have had a few this year, and expect to see more before the year closes."
WeCare tamper-evident labels can help retailers identify potential security breaches if skimming devices are inserted at fuel dispensers or other unattended PIN-entry devices. The labels can also help retailers address some of the PCI compliance mandates that are now required.
The security labels are to be used on fuel dispensers near the credit/debit card transaction area. If the label is lifted to insert a skimming device, a "void" message appears on the label, providing a visual alert to store employees so that additional action can be taken.
Because the labels clearly indicate that they are to prevent tampering, the labels help assure customers that their data is secure, and discourage criminals targeting the store.
Protect your business and your customers €" NACS recently produced a video to show you how. You can also order the WeCare decals for your stores.
NACS also has a fact sheet that examines retailer concerns about card skimming.