Police find more skimming devices at World To Go gas station

Less than two weeks after Newton Police Department announced its discovery of skimming devices at a local gas station, investigators say they received several reports of fraudulent credit card transactions and have subsequently found another suspected skimming operation at the World To Go gas station in town.

Over the past few weeks, local law enforcement have taken numerous reports of skimming activities at both Git-N-Go, 801 First Ave. W., and World To Go, 405 First Ave. E. According to the press release, the suspected skimming devices — which are used to steal credit card information — date back to early July 2024.

Iowa Department of Agriculture inspected all of the fuel pumps in Newton today and found no other skimming devices, but they did find evidence of tampering at a few pumps around the community. Skimming devices can be easily installed and removed by scammers, and police caution the public to stay vigilant.

Residents who have purchased fuel at either of these Newton gas stations are encouraged to monitor their financial transactions. If any suspicious activity is found, residents should immediately contact their bank and the police. To contact the Newton Police Department, call 641-791-0850.

SKIMMING DEVICES FOUND AT GIT-N-GO LATE AUGUST

Newton News previously reported that two Bluetooth skimming devices were found on two pumps at the Git-N-Go gas station. Five people at the time had reported their credit card information stolen. All five individuals had purchased gasoline at the Git-N-Go pumps.

The affected pumps were placed out of service following the discovery. Captain Chris Wing highly recommended people not swipe their credit or debit cards when paying and instead use either the tap or a mobile wallet because “they do not transmit card data and only transmit a token to the bank.”

Even the Federal Bureau of Investigations says tap-to-pay transactions are “more secure and less likely to be compromised.” The FBI also recommends gas station patrons use a fuel pump that is closer to the store and in direct view of the attendant. These pumps are less likely to be targets for skimming devices.

Other tips the FBI listed on its website include examining the keypad before use for any inconsistencies in coloring, material or shape. These inconsistencies could suggest that a foreign device is present. Customers may also want to consider paying inside with the attendant and not outside at the pump.

What are fuel pump skimmers? The FBI says they are devices attached to the internal wiring of the machine and are not visible to the customer. Skimming devices store data to be downloaded or wirelessly transferred later. Skimming costs financial institutions and customers more than $1 billion each year.

HOW DO I SPOT A SKIMMER?

In the press release, the Newton Police Department included information on how to spot a skimmer and how best to protect your information.

Some gas pump skimmers are undetectable, but others may be suspicious or show signs the device does not belong. If a credit card reader moves or doesn’t seem like it quite fits into place when you jiggle it, police say do not use and notify management right away.

Other physical indicators include being oversized, sticking out strangely, having cracks or damage to the reader or having arrow or lines that do not align with the pump. Customers at the fuel pump can also compare the card reader to others at the surrounding pumps to see if there are dissimilar.

Still, despite careful inspections some skimming devices are just impossible to spot since they can connect to the card reader internally and are not visible from the outside of the pump. All gas pumps are support to have tamper proof security seals affixed to the locked operating systems so businesses can spot tampering.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

Is there a way to avoid having credit card information stolen at the gas station? Newton Police Department says the most effective way is to simply pay inside with an attendant. But for those who do not wish to do that, there are ways to protect themselves to some degree:

• Remember to inspect the card reader using the tips above.

• Pay with credit, not debit, if you can.

• Pay with a chip or contact-free method, such as Apple Pay. Gas pump skimmers can only read the magnetic strip on your card.

• Avoid using your PIN or enter it discreetly. Some criminals install hidden cameras to catch this information.

• Pay at the pump closest to the building. Because it’s often being watched by attendants inside, it’s harder for criminals to tamper with.

• Set your payment cards to notify you for purchases over a certain amount.

• If something feels off, it might be worth it to mention it to an employee, find another way to pay or go somewhere else.

WHAT CAN BUSINESSES DO?

Customers are not the only victims of skimming. Police say businesses suffer from the associated costs, the damage to their reputation and lost sales.

Here are best practices business owners can do to help customers and keep their businesses safe from skimmers:

• Make pump inspection part of the daily routine for employees.

• Use and track pump security seals. These large labels are adhered to the pump near the credit card reader. If the pump panel is opened, the label will read “void,” which means the machine has been tampered with.

• Log the serial numbers on the seals. Thieves can use counterfeit security stickers, so make sure serial numbers on the seals match your station’s master list.

• Look for warped or protruding surfaces. For example, card readers and PIN pads not flush with the pump’s door panel are a warning sign.