Gas pump card skimmers

Gdetrailer wrote:
Additionally using your credit or debit card at gas stations you are OFTEN limited to $75 per unsigned transactions.. This means if you have a large fuel tank you will need to run your card through two or more times to fill your tank..

Not to mention many gas stations will also put a HOLD on your account when using unsigned purchases at the pump for TWICE the purchase price..

The Debit mode IS the same as you writing a physical check and there typically is no fraud "protection" on a written check and is up to your banks policies as to what they may do for you..

Yah, I do that - if the pump will allow it. Otherwise, I use another card or go inside. It's not a big deal.

A hold is no problem.

Ok, my daughter had blank checks stolen and forged, and was reimbursed 100%. It's NOT the same as ME writing that check, it's forgery.

How did someone drain her account? Did she get it back? How much?

Cripes! You're right. It's crazy how easy it is to clone cards.

Thanks for posting the video.

GMandJM wrote:
Is that in your neck of the woods, Hannibal?

Good on the lady who found out her deceased mother's card had been used and went to all those places to look at surveillance video. That must have been very helpful to the police.

Yes it is. The Sunoco station I suspect is in Largo, Pinellas County. The AG inspector also believes pump 6 had a skimmer. Both $800+ Home Depot purchases were in St. Petersburg, also in Pinellas County. Man I hope it was them and they're put away.
Here's a YouTube video of how easy it is to skim and clone a credit card. Ridiculously easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv72936OWck

Is that in your neck of the woods, Hannibal?

Good on the lady who found out her deceased mother's card had been used and went to all those places to look at surveillance video. That must have been very helpful to the police.

I sure hope this is the dirt bag that skimmed my card this time.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2015/8/11/police_alf_owner_use.html

a fraud alert is the same lamea$$ way LifeLok tries to protect your account and costing you over $600 a year..

Fraud alerts only work if the person handling the transaction actually looks for the information which most do not.

the best thing you can do is put a Credit Freeze on all three credit reporting agency accounts. in most states it free and unlocking the freeze is easy online.. check out clarkhoward.com and search credit freeze.

With all the hacks happening every day your info is out there for all to see.

PLUS never have Social Security card in pocket or wallet.. dumbest thing to do in the world.

Hannibal wrote:
Glad they caught the thief.

HIs co-worker turned him in.

Awwww....we know you. You're never mean spirited.

That said, There is one gas station near here that when you use a credit card, a "pending" charge of $100 shows up. It never goes through as a charge. But I have wondered if it would put a "hold" that big if someone used a debit card.

That's why I didn't say anything about BANK DEBIT CARDS. Don't have one, wouldn't use it if I had one.

I'm well aware of how gas stations work and frequently see those $1 holds for gas charges. I've never seen a HOLD that was even the amount of the purchase, let alone TWICE the purchase price. And those HOLDs last a day, maybe two. Maybe yours works differently than mine, and if it works like you've described you really should think about changing. I've traveled extensively inside the country and out and have never carried more than 2 cards, one of which is a back up. And I've also never been blocked for any time. And of course never lost a card.

And c'mon that was just a little jab about your sister's issue. Not meant to be too mean spirited. :)

fj12ryder wrote:
Hmm, let me see. If my credit card gets compromised I'm out a max of $50, but it has been compromised in the past and it's never cost me a dime. Or I can buy some $100 gift cards and be out $100 or more if something happens to them. Naw, I think I'll stick to the credit card.

And your sister lost all the money in her bank account and was not reimbursed by the bank? Looks like your sister doesn't listen to you either. :)

Credit card and BANK DEBIT CARD are two DIFFERENT CRITTERS.

My (AND MANY OTHERS) bank DEBIT CARD CAN WORK AND ACT LIKE A CREDIT CARD AND IT LOOKS LIKE A CREDIT CARD.. But with one twist, it's primary function is DEBIT from your checking. It's secondary function is to act as a credit card.

Bank Debit cards ARE DUAL PURPOSE and the DEBIT purpose is a direct connection to your CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

DEBIT only requires you to use a predefined "PIN", credit requires a SIGNED transaction (however UNSIGNED credit transactions are allowed for GAS PUMPS which are typically limited to $75 and online/mail order type of purchases which are often unlimited).

The rules are very different between the two different uses..

A CREDIT ONLY card has no ties to your personal checking account.

Additionally using your credit or debit card at gas stations you are OFTEN limited to $75 per unsigned transactions.. This means if you have a large fuel tank you will need to run your card through two or more times to fill your tank..

Not to mention many gas stations will also put a HOLD on your account when using unsigned purchases at the pump for TWICE the purchase price.. This HOLD can vary from 24 hrs to a week! Sometimes that hold may block you from making any more unsigned purchases for the length of the HOLD period. That means you may need SEVERAL credit cards in your pocket to lose..

As far as your wise comment about my sister, pretty much uncalled for.. she was using her BANK DEBIT CARD and the skimmer grabbed her BANK ACCOUNT. Has nothing to do with a CREDIT ONLY CARD.