These days we all use our payment cards at the gas pump or even the ATM to get cash when needed.
Cybercriminals are taking advantage of these places to get our information through Card Skimmers.
These devices are usually tight fitting over card readers at gas pumps and ATMs and Kingston Police ask everyone to be aware.
There are many ways to protect yourself, including shaking the card reader or simply going inside to pay for your gas.
To protect yourself against card skimmers, follow these helpful tips:
- Pay with cash. Paying with cash will completely eliminate the risk of coming in contact with a card skimmer.
- Shake and pull the card reader. If the card reader is loose or looks tampered with, pay inside and report it.
- Go inside. Paying inside of the gas station or going into the bank will reduce the risk of coming in contact with a card skimmer since it is less likely that the card readers inside have been tampered with.
- Use mobile payment options if they are available. Use options like Google or Apple Pay to eliminate having to use your card.
- Download a Skimmer Scanner app. These apps, which are available on both the App Store and Google Play, will warn you about where card skimmers are located in the area.
Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers.
Written by Tim Baltz
