Credit Card security at gas pumps

These bluetooth skimmers have been a big problem in the tourist areas of Mexico. They get installed by ATM or fuel pump service people. One thing you can do is use your smart phone to look for a hot spot. If you get hot spots near the pump that don't make sense, pay inside.

Lately, I have been going inside (which I do most of the time anyway) and use my Debit Card. All of the places that I have been to are set up where you tell them $100.00 on pump $XX. When you pump the Fuel it will only debit the amount that you actually pump. When I do this I make sure to save BOTH Receipts just in case there is a problem.

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I look at this as a hint as to the future. Technology is ever improving, both for us and for the criminals. Unless the credit card companies do something to combat this, it will be worse next year.
We already cannot swipe most credit cards now in some stores because of the new embedded chip. Now they have to be plugged in and I would expect more improvements with the credit card security in the future.

How true!

Here in Canada, most of our new credit and debit cards are the "Tap & Pay" type, which means you only need to touch the card to the card reader screen; no pin required, no signature, nothing. In my view, this is a step backwards for credit card security. If a crook gets his / her hands on your cards, they don't need a pin number to make purchases.
I have to admit, it is certainly faster and more convenient, but I have serious misgivings about these new cards.

I don't think we're going to see much of this. The device has to be physically installed into the pump. That means the pump has to be taken apart to get to the electronics inside. A random person cannot easily install this device secretly. Like said above, it has to be an 'inside' job.

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

As mentioned I also have a card that I only use for fuel. Never a debit card. If my account is comprised a simple phone call and I am not responsible for the charges. I also check my accounts often rather than waiting for an account statement even though I might have a statement cycle or two to dispute a charge.

The future of credit card security is contactless EMV tokenization.

For those that would like that in English: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Wallet.

Lots of merchants now support it, and some gas stations accept it in the store, some others are testing it at the pump. Exxon Mobil's app lets you pay via the app at the pump, and the app supports Apple Pay - and possibly others.

Until we reach the nirvana where everyone accepts it, I have a credit card specifically for "risky" transactions.

In the past, your two cards (yours and wife) used the same numbers. Once one was compromised, they were both compromised. Now, at least all of our cards use different numbers and are chipped.

To be honest I don't care if my credit card is compromised. The credit card companies have been slow to institute security changes and they pay for the unauthorized charges. I call them, or they call me and send me another card. Meanwhile, my wife's card still works. We carry two cards, one for fuel (PenFed) and Capitol one for other purchases. We also have two additional cards through Wells Fargo if those get compromised.

To me, it's just not a big deal!

From what I read that chip can read CC number.
In CA additional security require entering ZIP by pushing the buttons, that the reader doesn't see.
Than CC I have have insurance for such incidents and all I have to do is read my statement and question the transaction

I use greendot. A debit card which cannot access more than you have loaded online from your bank account, or loaded in many stores using cash. If you find it compromised, merely open another Greendot account.

Good for travel, or for funding the kids at college or on the road.

Easy to load, easy to use and does not use or access a credit line.