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Q: Hello, I have a weird thing to write you about and might just be overthinking things. I was buying gas the other day while on the road for work, and as I put my card into the reader on the pump, it got stuck. I had to tug at it to pull it out, but that’s about it. I didn’t think about it til later, but I can’t help but have a bad feeling about the whole ordeal. So after a cursory Google search, I learned about a “credit card skimmer.” I guess it’s a device that scammers use to steal information. I don’t know if the pump I used had one, but what should I do on the off-chance that I did encounter it?
A: Hello, and thank you for checking with me, just to be sure. Better Business Bureau encourages the public to do the following to protect themselves from becoming a victim of this type of scam:
- Keep a close eye on your bank and credit accounts. Check your online statements regularly to make sure there are no suspicious charges. If you see any, report them to your bank or credit card company immediately. Use the customer service number on the back of the card to ensure you reach the real company and are not an imposter. Make sure you contact the bank, merchant, and card issuer if you ever suspect your card has been compromised.
- Be wary if your card gets stuck in a chip reader. If the reader seems to have a tighter-than-normal grip on your card, there could be a shim inside. You may want to cancel your transaction and notify the business.
- Use contactless payment methods. Contactless payment methods are not vulnerable to shimming. Try using "tap-and-go" features on your credit card instead of swiping or inserting your card. You can also use contactless mobile services such as Apple Pay or Samsung Pay to tap and pay.
- Go inside to a teller to withdraw cash at a bank.
- Use ATMs in banks rather than more vulnerable stand-alone machines.
- Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN.
- Don’t proceed if you feel resistance when the card is inserted.
Regardless of whether or not you encountered a trap laid by scammers, it always pays to be wary of things like that. At the very least, you should contact the gas station you were at and let them know their pump(s) might be tampered with. In addition, as previously mentioned, you’ll probably want to monitor your card activity for a while. If you see something suspicious, let your bank know immediately. For more information on credit card skimmers and other scams to be on the lookout for, I recommend visiting BBB.org. And whenever you encounter a scam, report it with BBB at BBB.org/ScamTracker.
