Credit Card security at gas pumps

DSDP Don wrote:
Yes....most f the pumps had locks like your RV, one bay door key fits every trailer made. Then they started putting on the tear off labels, which really didn't slow them down much. The best security was for the station to open each pump at the start of business and check, or be open 24 hours.

We had a Unocal at the corner that we used for years. In a three month period, we had our card compromised at that station twice. I spoke to the owner and told him we would quit shopping there unless he rectified the problem. They eventually increased their security and resolved the issue.

Interesting since the Moorpark Unocal I had noticed 1. didn't have stickers 2. were lose fitting doors for the card reader.
I mentioned it to the clerk when I went inside to pay he said they check them everyday and don't have a problem. Soon afterwards it seemed they started w the stickers. I have been hacked 3 x at two different SHELL 1. Moorpark (2) 2. Agoura Hills (this was the night clerk since I paid inside.

old guy wrote:
one thing I don't understand is how in the heck do they get the thing inside the pump. do they have keys to gain entry or what?

Old Guy, they have what's called "shaved keys" master keys, very similar to what locksmiths have to unlock autos.

Yes....most f the pumps had locks like your RV, one bay door key fits every trailer made. Then they started putting on the tear off labels, which really didn't slow them down much. The best security was for the station to open each pump at the start of business and check, or be open 24 hours.

We had a Unocal at the corner that we used for years. In a three month period, we had our card compromised at that station twice. I spoke to the owner and told him we would quit shopping there unless he rectified the problem. They eventually increased their security and resolved the issue.

one thing I don't understand is how in the heck do they get the thing inside the pump. do they have keys to gain entry or what?

Credit card skimmers at gas pumps doesn't necessarily have anything to do with employees. The crooks simply open the pump at night when the station is closed and install the skimmer. If you look at a pump next time you get fuel, you'll see varying styles of locks (trying different types) and "tear" labels that tear off if the door is opened and are not reusable.

Card security is a bit paranoid in Europe where CC work more like debit cards, taking the funds directly from your account.
When paying in restaurant, you don't let the waiter walk away with your CC. He/she will bring remote scanner to the table and scan CC in front of you.
15 years ago I got a call from my Discover CC asking about $3,000 charge in France. That was coupe months after my vacations there, so got me a bit confused, but I never charged such amount. Only later I concluded that Discover was not honored in Europe and I never used it there.
For years I had my cards marked "Check ID" in signature line. As me how many times I was ask for ID ?
The cashiers are not trained too well in USA, so paying inside does not guarantee anything.
In Mexico debits card work well so I paid for fuel with cash. Beware about station attendant sticking a nozzle from pump that was not reset after other fill up.

There were several arrests in Michigan in the past year for scamming devices places in the pumps and they were not employees. All over the state, but I know of several in the Grand Rapids area from reading the news stories. They are also reporting now that the new chip cards are not as secure as they though they would be which means someone must have already figured out a way to scam those cards. Just not going to fret about it. Had card compromised a couple of times, at 2 different stations ( not with device) and bank contacted me and advised and issued new card.

randallb wrote:
It takes an insider to install the reader. Normally this is the late night minimum wage attendant who applied for and got the job for a piece of the action. A major player like Pilot, etc are going to be on top of any irregularities in their credit card processing. They know that a problem like this affecting a large number of their daily customers would put a severe dent in the bottom line once it hit the news. Carry a second card and if you get hit call the 800 number, report the theft and wait for the new card to arrive. Life is to short to sweat the little dog doo.
Randy

Actually, a lot of pumps had/have similar keys - kinda like the 751 key for gas pumps! Skimmers have made the industry question that logic.

Article

Additionally, many skimmers sit over the real card reader and don't require access to the inside of the pump. Conversely, they are much easier to detect.

Having been skimmed multiple times.
SO what.
YOu check your account, You notice the charges, you make one phone call and they send you a new card anywhere you happen to be (overnight if necessary) all done.
Charges are removed from your account.
Last time I was skimmed was at a METRO (Washington DC) card dispenser. Within an hour someone had checked into the Hyatt in Atlanta, Georgia on my card number.
When I returned to my room I called the CC number and in 5 minutes I was done with the problem.

randallb wrote:
It takes an insider to install the reader. Normally this is the late night minimum wage attendant who applied for and got the job for a piece of the action. A major player like Pilot, etc are going to be on top of any irregularities in their credit card processing. They know that a problem like this affecting a large number of their daily customers would put a severe dent in the bottom line once it hit the news. Carry a second card and if you get hit call the 800 number, report the theft and wait for the new card to arrive. Life is to short to sweat the little dog doo.
Randy

Randy, I believe this is what happened to me about 6 months ago. I was on my way to Sea/Tac Int'l. Airport to pick up my son. He called me to let me know he was going to be 15 min. late (flight delay) so I went to a Shell Station near the cell phone lot at Sea/Tac to fill my CRV up. I used the outside pump next was what you described. My credit card company got ahold of me in the A.M. and asked me if I was on the road and making purchases in Valencia, CA. I told them no! That I was at home in WA. St. so they denied the charges. I did not have to pay for anything since there investigators found out a skimmer device was used at the outside pump of the Shell Station. What the bad guys did was make pre paid Visa Cards off the #'s they scammed from me.