A credit card skimmer has been found on a Wood County gas pump.
Wood County Auditor Michael Sibbersen credited the discovery of a credit card skimmer to due diligence and proactive measures taken by the management of a local Shell station.
The skimmer was discovered Jan. 26 on gas pump number 3 during a routine examination by an employee of the Shell True North station at 1000 Buck Road in Rossford. Local authorities confiscated the device.
This is the first instance of a credit card skimmer being discovered in Wood County.
“Skimmers” are installed by criminals to steal credit card data. Sibbersen encourages daily inspections for credit card skimmers by filling station employees.
“Throughout the year, our weights and measures division inspects the gas pumps at 70 stations across Wood County, among many other duties,” he said. “To combat these criminals, it is important that station owners continue to supplement our inspections with daily inspections of their own.”
Anyone suspecting the presence of a skimmer, or witnessing the tampering of a gas pump or credit card reader, is being urged to contact local law enforcement. Consumers should know that paying for gas with cash is always the safest option at the pump, Sibbersen said. Using a credit card is safer than a debit card, because customers using a debit card risk their PIN numbers being stolen.
Motorists are also advised to use pumps near the attendant, since criminals often target pumps further from view.
The auditor’s office can be contacted at 419-354-9150.
