When your car is running low on gasoline, you probably search for the most inexpensive station nearby for a fill-up. For me, there’s a station on the way to my gym that is consistently 20¢ lower per gallon than other nearby stations. Until recently though, I’ve never really considered that I could be scammed at the station, other than keeping an eye out for skimming devices.
Skimming
Skimming is when criminals attach a device to card readers to steal credit or debit card information. It reads the magnetic strip on your card while the card is inserted into the reader. Skimmers store this information, then the criminal returns to retrieve his device and download card information from people who used the gas pump. This means there may be an interval between when you were at the station and when you notice suspicious charges on your account. While this has been known to happen at gas stations, it can happen anywhere there are card readers.
To avoid skimmers, examine the card reader for any loose or mismatched parts, especially if there’s an extra lip or protruding part of the reader that you haven’t seen before either at this station or others. Make sure the security seal on the pump hasn’t been cut or tampered with. You can also either pay with cash inside the store or use a tap-to-pay card if the pump allows that type of transaction.
Tap-to-pay screen damaged
Since you can avoid skimmers by using a contactless card, some criminals have started drilling holes in the screen where you tap your card to disable it, then installed a skimmer on the card reader. If you receive an error message or cannot tap your card, many people will automatically insert their card without really looking to see if the card reader is legitimate.
If you notice a damaged screen – especially if it looks like it’s been drilled – let the employees know and consider either finding another pump or paying inside the store.
Unethical store management
In this age of cellphones and the belief in multi-tasking, it’s easy to mindlessly pump gas while trying to do three other things. Or you might set the nozzle to fill by itself and sit in the car until you hear it click. However, if you’re purchasing gas from a station you haven’t used before, it might be worth your time to keep an eye on the pump. Some station owners have doctored their pumps to deliver less gas than indicated, or even to charge you a higher rate that what was advertised. If you’re at a station where you pay an increased amount for using a credit card, make sure the pump resets to the correct amount if you pay with cash.
Pump Switching
Be wary if someone at a self-serve station offers to pump your gas or rehang the nozzle for you. They may fill your car and walk toward the pump as if they are going to rehang the nozzle to finish the transaction, but instead either fill their car or other cars after you drive away. As long as the nozzle isn’t reinserted, it’s all charged to your credit card. Similarly, if someone is standing with a nozzle and offers to fill your car for cash, know that they probably just scammed another customer.
It’s sad to provide this advice, but the best defense is to be wary of people offering to help you. This especially goes for the elderly or those who are physically weak. Many scammers will specifically target these people. And make sure you receive a receipt for your purchase, which only will be printed after the transaction is complete.
Personal safety
In my area, there was a rash of stolen items (including cars) recently in one part of the city. People often leave their purses or phones on the center console and don’t lock their doors. It’s easy for someone to walk along and grab items out of your car while you’re pumping gas. Sometimes you’ll even have teams working, where one person will talk to you while the other is riffling through your car or purse.
When you turn into the station, look around for people just milling about. Make sure you feel safe enough to step out of your car. If you have any qualms, leave. When you park your car, check your surroundings again, and lock your doors. I usually keep my driver’s door unlocked, but you can take your keys and completely lock the car while you’re getting gas. If you choose to go into the store, consider pulling into a parking space in front of the store and locking the car instead of just leaving your car at the pump.
I wish I had a better prediction for how often we have to guard against scams. Unfortunately, they seem to be crimes that aren’t or cannot be investigated. Usually it’s a small dollar amount, so unless someone is injured or killed, the police will write a report and that’s often the end of it. In short, there’s no incentive for criminals to stop scamming us. The best defense is to keep up with scams, keep an eye on your surroundings, and listen to that little voice when it tells you something isn’t right.
Photo by Isabella Mendes