‘If it doesn’t look right, don’t use it’: Sheriff warns of credit card skimming
By Jenna Wilson
Before doing something as simple as paying at the pump, St. Joseph residents may want to double-check that nothing looks suspicious at the card reader.
Some community members have expressed worries over their credit card information being compromised after using their cards in area gas stations.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office is warning people to be cautious with their bank cards, as information can be stolen, commonly through credit card skimming. This is a way of stealing personal data and credit card information by mimicking the appearance of a legitimate card reader at a store or gas pump.
“There are various ways for people to obtain your card information and using a skimmer is one of the most common,” said Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett. “Both the sheriff and police department has dealt with this issue locally and we want to remind citizens to be cautious when they’re out and select a gas pump or an ATM to use. Test it out, pay attention to if it appears flawed, and if it doesn’t look right, don’t use it.”
The sheriff’s office said people should keep their eyes peeled for skimmers, which are often card readers that appear bulky and a different color than a regular card reader.
If possible, customers should pay with cash, use their credit card inside the gas station or use a digital wallet option like Apple Pay or a credit card that has a tap-to-pay function.
“Always make sure you jiggle the card reader and verify that it’s not hanging loosely or attached with tape or some type of adhesive,” Puett said. “Protect your identity as best as you can and don’t make yourself a victim because some cases of fraud can take some time to investigate.”
If you do notice your credit cards and bank information have been compromised, it should be reported immediately to your bank and law enforcement for investigation.
“Notify your creditors, stop the cards, change your passwords and complete all safety measures if you do fall victim to fraud,” Puett said. “It’s unfortunate to say but there’s a lot of people out there looking to victimize others and take things they worked hard for.”
