Skimming resurgence suspected at Newton gas station

Newton Police Department is investigating several reports of fraudulent credit card transactions in what appears to be a resurgence in suspected skimming activity. According to a Dec. 20 press release, the department has seen an increase in these types of reports over the past month.

Specifically, residents have pointed to fraudulent credit card transactions on their accounts after purchasing gas from the Git N Go at 801 First Ave. W. in Newton. In August, this same gas station was the site of other suspected skimming activities, which also resulted in fraudulent credit card purchases.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship assisted local police in their investigation at that time, but no skimming devices were found on the pumps that victims had reported using. However, there was evidence of tampering found at two fuel pump locations in the community.

Again, the Iowa Department of Agriculture is assisting Newton Police in the investigation. Management at Git N Go is aware of the situation.

Any resident who has purchased fuel at this gas station is encouraged to monitor their financial transactions and immediately contact their bank and law enforcement if any suspicious activity is found. Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess reminded to retailers to continue inspecting their pumps on a daily basis.

“Retailers have a responsibility to do so and failure to perform these inspections is a disservice to their customers and their business,” Burdess said. “We encourage customers to be vigilant in their fueling purchases and recommend only using credit cards and fueling stations that have a tap-to-pay feature.”

Back in September, the World To Go gas station at 405 First Ave. E. was suspected to have skimming devices on fuel pumps. Skimming devices are used to steal credit card information. They attach to the internal wiring of the machine and are not always clearly visible to the customer.

At the time, Captain Chris Wing recommended people not swipe their card or debit cards when paying and instead use the tap or a mobile wallet.

Oftentimes skimming devices store data that can be downloaded or wirelessly transferred later. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, skimming costs financial institutions and customers more than $1 billion each year. The FBI says to carefully examine keypads before use for any inconsistencies.

Different coloring, material or shape could indicate a foreign device is present. Newton Police Department said in the past that if a credit card reader moves or doesn’t seem like it quite fits into place when you jiggle it, do not use it and notify management right away so that it can be reported.

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 supposed to have tamper-proof seals affixed to the locked operating systems so businesses can spot tampering.

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 for people 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.

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.