Gas Crisis: Identity Theft at the Pump
When you fill up at the gas pump, you may unknowingly be leaving something behind: your identity. ID theft at the gas pump is the preferred method of the latest generation of ID defrauders. But there are ways to outsmart them. Let’s take a closer look at this growing problem and what you can do to minimize the risks.
A Full Tank…and an Empty Bank Account?
ATM card users have long been advised to shield the key pad any time they input a PIN number to obtain services. Though this method is an important one and can deflect a thief standing just over the user’s shoulder, ID criminals have other ways of stealing your identity.
Using a method known as “skimming,” a criminal can obtain dozens, a hundred or even more PIN numbers in just one day. And perhaps the most frightening part is that the thief doesn’t even have to be in the vicinity to do it. This minimizes some risks to him…and increases the attractiveness of this underhanded method to ID thieves all across the country.
The Sneaky Art of Skimming
Skimming itself isn’t new; it’s been used on ATM bank machines for years. In order to “skim” a machine, the thief attaches a piece made to look like an extension of the insert slot. This magnetic device, also known as a card cleaner, collects the information from the cards. At the end of the day, it’s a simple matter of removing the card cleaner to be read at the thief’s leisure.
What’s new about skimming is the latest innovation in card cleaners: they’re smaller now, making them less detectable (and more sensitive) than ever. Once the information is obtained, a phony card is created for the thief’s use.
Protecting Your ID at the Pump
According to reports, once a relatively isolated issue, skimming at the pump is now moving across the country and poses a significant threat to unsuspecting consumers. But it’s not all bad news. There are steps you can take to minimize the chances of becoming a victim of skimming.
One recommendation is to use the Credit rather than Debit feature when filling your tank. The reason? Thieves are more comfortable using illegally copied cards for debit than credit card purchases. Debits allow immediate access to cash and don’t require a signature, two other reasons they are more attractive to criminals.
If you do want to use a debit card at the gas station, go inside and make the purchase there. Card cleaners are typically attached in an unobtrusive way–an easy task to accomplish outside at the pump, but virtually impossible inside the store without a break-in…something this type of criminal wishes to avoid.
And before inserting your card, gently sweep the insertion area with your pinky. You may be able to feel the presence of a card cleaner (which is typically about the size of a matchbox).
Along with other standard credit and debit card precautions, such as keeping a close eye on your credit reports and shredding documents before recycling them, these ideas can help you stay safe and thwart a thief whose own eye is on your accounts.
