Gas pump card skimmers

[Hannibal]

Got bit again. Both times the day after fueling up at a Sunoco station. This time the thieves made two $800+ purchases at two different Home Depots and a couple of smaller purchases at 7-11. Cancelled the account, bank will absorb loss and new cards coming.
Anyone else been bit? How do you all pay for fuel for your TV? I use a credit card that's only used for fueling our truck and my work car. Never a debit card.

[mockturtle]

We have a fraud alert and we call when we travel and tell them where we expect to buy fuel.

Yep, I neglected to do this before I crossed the Canadian border on my way to AK. A stop was put on my Visa which I didn't know about until I wanted gas in Canada. Of course, I got it taken care of but you really do need to inform your credit card companies that you will be traveling and where you will be traveling.

[Passin_Thru]

YEP! Guy swiped my card at a motel in Ky, used the number and tried to get 800 cash in Las Vegas, Visa refused. They also charged $350.00 for fuel in Pa. We were in Mexico.Cancelled card, Visa took care of it. We have a fraud alert and we call when we travel and tell them where we expect to buy fuel.

[philh]

I carry branded fuel only cards...

[Hannibal]

GMandJM wrote:

2oldman wrote:
What the heck is this thread doing in Tow Vehicles??

Too funny! I hadn't even noticed that.

Maybe the OP was filling his TV when his card info got skimmed?

That would be true. I relate fueling my TV to the TV forum.:C

[itguy08]

BenK wrote:
What is missed is that, when they compromise your account...it is not that far
from them going a bit farther to then steal your ID top empty your accounts (plural)
BEFORE you have a chance to check it

Sure, the credit card issuers are on the hook for anything done on the 'credit card'
but they are not on the hook for bank accounts/etc...

True but unless you put blocks on all your accounts they can still could get them. Best to be villigant and use different and complex passwords for all banking sites. Also turn on alerts and/or 2 factor authentication if they support it.

[Bumpyroad]

gas pumps, tow vehicles?
bumpy

[GMandJM]

2oldman wrote:
What the heck is this thread doing in Tow Vehicles??

Too funny! I hadn't even noticed that.

Maybe the OP was filling his TV when his card info got skimmed?

[2oldman]

BenK wrote:
What is missed is that, when they compromise your account...it is not that far from them going a bit farther to then steal your ID top empty your accounts (plural)
BEFORE you have a chance to check it

I hear scare stories like this all the time, but have yet to hear of it actually happening. I don't really see how draining an account could happen that fast, unless your balance is just a few hundred dollars.

The thing about text alerts is that you can know RIGHT NOW as it's happening. If you're still in the paper age (no text phone) then that's a different ball game. It's my belief that no bank is going to abide by fraud, let your accounts be drained and tell you "sorry". That's just not good business.

If you prefer lots of cash and separate cards, that's fine. Whatever works for you.

What the heck is this thread doing in Tow Vehicles??

[BenK]

What is missed is that, when they compromise your account...it is not that far
from them going a bit farther to then steal your ID top empty your accounts (plural)
BEFORE you have a chance to check it

Sure, the credit card issuers are on the hook for anything done on the 'credit card'
but they are not on the hook for bank accounts/etc...

[2oldman]

fj12ryder wrote:
I've had my accounts compromised a few times, and it's never cost me any money at all. So I fail to see the need for gift cards or the like. Keep an eye on your accounts and you're fine.

Exactly. It's 100% insurance coverage. Cash and gift cards are fine if you just cannot stand the idea of being compromised.

Credit/Debit cards wouldn't attract a lot of customers if they acted exactly like cash: if it's gone, it's gone.

[fj12ryder]

I've had my accounts compromised a few times, and it's never cost me any money at all. So I fail to see the need for gift cards or the like. Keep an eye on your accounts and you're fine.

And what is this "Cash" that people speak of? 🙂 I may have my CC accounts compromised and it has yet to cost me a penny. I can't say the same when I've lost my billfold with the money inside. I have yet to find a place that will replace my money. If it disappears, it's just plain gone. Thanks, but no thanks. Shoot, if I've got $100 in my billfold I feel flush. 🙂

[2oldman]

itguy08 wrote:

2oldman wrote:

What happens if someone steals my Visa Debit card and uses it fraudulently?..... It is important to continually monitor your monthly statement to identify any unauthorized transactions.

I don't know where this quote came from, but it's pretty old-school.

Directly from Visa. While it's old-school its still prudent as some don't have smartphones or some banks don't have the high level of alerting that others do.

Perhaps not, but they virtually all have online access. Seems odd to me they wouldn't suggest checking your account online. It's all there.

[Gdetrailer]

Powerdude wrote:
Most US credit cards do not have an encryption chip on them.

Forget the credit cards.

Use cash, it still works.

While I personally try to use "cash" as much as possible, now days it isn't reasonably possible.

It is rare now days to be able to pump first then go in and pay with cash. Many stations only will do cash IF you PREPAY (IE go inside plunk your cash down). I find that is a real hassle for traveling.

So what is one to do?

My solution is to buy PREPAID GIFT CARDS.

The downside is those gift cards are only good for that "brand".

But the upside is no worries if someone is skimming or has hacked the pump reader. Even if they did they cannot get more than what was on that card ($100 max for BP cards). Gift cards are FREE OF LOADING CHARGES but if not used within a year they will be accessed a "fee" for inactivity which will reduce the balance available (use or loose).

The thieves don't get my bank info, nor any other credit card info.. They hit a brick wall..

I thought about getting prepaid Visa or Master cards but to be able to do more than $75 per unsigned transactions you must "register" your name and address to the card AND they CHARGE a "reload" fee when you need to put more on the card..

[itguy08]

2oldman wrote:

What happens if someone steals my Visa Debit card and uses it fraudulently?..... It is important to continually monitor your monthly statement to identify any unauthorized transactions.

I don't know where this quote came from, but it's pretty old-school.

Directly from Visa. While it's old-school its still prudent as some don't have smartphones or some banks don't have the high level of alerting that others do. And they have to give you 60 days do dispute charges.

Also, another method is to charge some small amount first to see if the # is good and then hold on to it for use later on.

Me? I download from the bank to Quicken at least every other day. Nothing gets past me. 🙂

[Powerdude]

Most US credit cards do not have an encryption chip on them.

Forget the credit cards.

Use cash, it still works.