FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- Card-skimming schemes and the use of fraudulent cards at automated fuel dispensers (AFDs) are prolific challenges in the petroleum industry. Visa actively monitors skimming trends and works closely with law enforcement officials, financial institutions and merchants to investigate skimming, counterfeiting and other types of fraud.
Visa is hosting a webinar on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern time to inform petroleum merchants of skimming trends at AFDs and to share best practices for investigation and incident response. Registration is required; visit Adobe Connect to sign up. Participants are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.
“Every retailer should be aware of the risks surrounding card-skimming at their pumps,” said Douglas Spencer, NACS director of products and services. “When the U.S. Secret Service says that skimming is a multi-billion dollar problem, and there is an ongoing war where their efforts against the thieves is just breaking even — this should send a strong message to every merchant that they need to be more proactive in their efforts to secure the confidential data of customers.”
The webinar will cover:
- How fraud is monitored across the Visa network
- Ways Visa can be a resource for merchants
- EMV standards, hardware and triple data encryption standards
In addition, industry experts and a federal law enforcement officer will offer techniques to better defend businesses and customers against fraud. Speakers include Mario Rivero of the Global Fraud Investigation and Resolution Visa Inc.; Stoddard Lambertson of Americas Payment System Security Visa Inc.; U.S. Secret Service Agent Steve Scarince, assistant to the Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Fraud Task Force; and Robin Pacheco, Chevron’s fraud analyst in the card operations division.
Petroleum merchants are encouraged to register and attend, as are acquirers and processors focused on this industry.
To help combat skimming, PCATS has created the Data Security Incident Report database for retailers to report suspected and identified skimming incidents at their stores. The success of the database is dependent upon retailer input — all of which is done anonymously. No IP tracking or user information is gathered.
Please contact PCATS at security@pcats.org for information on using this database. PCATS will provide you the URL of the database as well as the single generic ID and password — identical for everyone’s use to protect anonymity.
Retailers will be able to upload pictures of skimming devices found, view a visual representation of skimming incidents on a map by zip code and receive email alerts.
If you want to see a demonstration, send an email to security@pcats.org and a representative from PCATS will contact you.