State agencies create PSA to help Texans avoid credit card skimming at gas pumps

Do you wiggle the card slot before swiping your credit card?

This is just one of the ways you can tell if a swimmer has a credit card at the gas pump.

The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation have released a new public service advisory with tips for consumers on how to prevent their card information from being stolen by criminals when swiping their card at the gas pump.

Authorities said most skimmers are located deep inside the housing and may not be obvious, but they advised checking for the following:

• Look at the pump and housing – do they look damaged or tampered with?

• Wiggle the card slot – is it loose?

• Look at the keypad – is it loose or does it look like something has been placed on it?

FCIC and TDLR offer consumers the following protection options:

• If you do not pay cash, always use a credit card and not a debit card. This protects the PIN and prevents access to a bank account.

• Set up card usage or transaction alerts for bank and credit card accounts. Most major banks offer apps that allow accounts to be monitored in real time.

• Regularly check your credit card and bank statements for fraudulent charges or suspicious transactions.

• If possible, avoid swiping your credit card. Pay for fuel using tap-to-pay or a trusted payment app on your mobile phone.

If a card skimmer is found, it is the merchant’s responsibility to notify law enforcement and disable the pump until investigators can remove the device. Merchants are also required by law to notify TDLR within 24 hours.

Last year, San Antonio police discovered skimmers at more than two dozen gas stations. We’ve created a map of all the locations. Click here for more information on how to tell if a debit card skimming device is installed at gas pumps and ATMs.