Michigan cracking down on gas station credit card skimmers
In a new safety campaign to crack down on card skimmers, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) located 12 skimming devices during a two-week blitz.
During the inspections nine credit card skimming devices were removed and confiscated by the department, in addition to the two removed by a local police department and one by a station owner. The devices were turned over to the U.S. Secret Service for investigation.
The agency warns that these types of credit card skimmers can’t be seen from outside the pump. They are located inside where the devices make a copy of the consumer’s card information.
“Bottom line, this is fraud. This is stealing someone’s personal information for criminal use. These inspections are just another way MDARD is protecting Michigan consumers at the pump,” said Jamie Clover Adams, MDARD Director.
“We will continue looking for skimmers with every pump inspection,” added Adams.
The MDARD and the Michigan Petroleum Association have been working together with gas station owners to help them identify the fraud devices and protect their patrons.
“We are urging our members to increase their dispenser inspections and to be more aware about these attacks” said Mark Griffin, MPA President. “If we all work together; consumers, law enforcement, and business, we can stop this from happening.”
Skimming devices at gas stations has been an ongoing issue in the US for the last years. In 2013 the fuel retailing industry lost an estimated $250 million from fuel-related fraud, according to a Dow Jones News Service report.
