Card Skimming Devices At Fuel Pumps On Rise in Florida

​GAINESVILLE, Fla. July 27, 2017; Florida is experiencing an increase in skimming, reports WUFT News. State data shows that 315 skimming devices have been discovered in fuel dispensers through July 18, compared to 120 skimmers discovered through the first seven months of 2016—a 160% increase.

The news source adds that this year’s seven-month total in Florida already exceeds the 219 reported skimming devices in all of 2016 and the 169 devices found in 2015, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said that inspectors and law-enforcement officers have documented a continued rise since 2015 in skimming devices. “Since that time, we have seen a steady trend upward, an increase in the number of skimmers being found around the state on these gas pumps,” Putnam said.

This year the state passed a law making it illegal to possess skimming equipment. Even so, criminals are becoming more sophisticated, with some now using devices where card data can be downloaded remotely, eliminating the need to retrieve skimmers from inside the pumps. Putnam told the news source that retailers are taken steps to protect their customers and dispensers from skimming, such as moving away from a universal key system that allows access to pumps in different locations, and using technology that shuts down pumps if they are opened without authorization.

“Unfortunately, like many forms of criminal activities, the bad guys continue to evolve just like the laws continue to evolve,” Putnam told the news source.

Many retailers use the NACS WeCare Tamper-Evident Decals to reduce the risk of skimming at fuel dispensers. The tamper-evident labels are placed on dispenser door entries, which help identify potential security breaches if skimming devices are inserted at fuel dispensers. If the label is lifted to open a dispenser door and insert a skimming device, a “void” message appears on the label, providing a visual alert to store employees so that additional action can be taken. Because the labels clearly indicate that they prevent tampering, the labels also assure customers that their data is secure, and discourage criminals targeting the store.

More than 3 million NACS WeCare Tamper-Evident Decals are in use at convenience and fuel retail locations in the United States. Used in coordination with the decals is the SkimDefend app, powered by Pinnacle Corporation.

Pinnacle’s app (when installed on a mobile device) will scan and log the unique characteristic of each WeCare decal and locally store the site, time, pump number and decal ID information. Retailers can then use this information (stored digitally) to track any/all pump (CRIND) intrusions and thereby proactively combat skimming efforts, as well as maintain forensic evidence for authorities in the event a skimmer is eventually discovered, as well as help comply with PCI 3.1 guidelines.

Since 2008, NACS and Conexxus have offered convenience and fuel retailers the resources and tools they need to proactively initiate and maintain effective payment security procedures that help reduce the occurrence of skimming.