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Criminals Hide Payment-Card Skimmers In Gas Pumps
tugfoigel writes "A wave of recent bank-card skimming incidents demonstrate how sophisticated the scam has become. Criminals hid bank card-skimming devices inside gas pumps — in at least one case, even completely replacing the front panel of a pump — in a recent wave of attacks that demonstrate a more sophisticated, insidious method of stealing money from unsuspecting victims filling up their gas tanks. Some 180 gas stations in Utah, from Salt Lake City to Provo, were reportedly found with these skimming devices sitting inside the gas pumps. The scam was first discovered when a California bank's fraud department discovered that multiple bank card victims reporting problems had all used the same gas pump at a 7-Eleven store in Utah."
Ride 50 miles one way to work on your bicycle.
Not too hard, I'd only need to do it once before my boss fires me for being 4 hours late.
I remember running into something like this a long time ago when I was in New York City. There was this small piece of metal in the card slot. Needless to say I didn't insert my debit card in to find out what it was.
How do I protect myself from a skimmer inside a gas pump?
Step 1: Assume they're compromised.
Step 2: Pull out the concealed Glock that every freedom loving American carries around and fire wildly into them.
Step 3: If the machine is rendered out of order, move onto the next machine and go to Step 1. If someone tries to stop you, go to Step 1.
But in all seriousness I think you could pick up a "preferred customer card" at some grocery store and carry that around with you. When you approach the pump, put that card in first. A compromised machine might feel weird and will most likely not respond to you inserting a card. An uncompromised machine will swipe easily and also think for a second and then ask you to reswipe your card. While not flawless, this is the best thing I can think of aside from prepaying at the attendant in the store or something really crazy like demanding to borrow a passerby's card to see if it works before you put yours in. It's also probably your best option if you buy gas after hours like I do. The unfortunate side effect is it wastes time and makes it look like you're flipping through maxed/stolen cards.
My work here is dung.
If you have a pair of sunglasses and a jacket, you should be good to go.
1: Get a $10-$25 cash card from your credit card company
2: Slide it through the card reader
3: Light up a cigarette
4: Spray gas all over the pump
5: Slowly walk away, flicking the smouldering cigarette behind you, onto the pump. Speak a one-liner about gas, pumps, explosions, fire, smoking, or credit card fraud. It is very important NOT to laugh at your own joke.
6: No matter how hot your back suddenly gets, keep walking slowly and DON'T turn around, (glass or shrapnel is going to hit you, it's better to take it in the back than in the face.)
7: Never worry about gas pump skimmers for the rest of your life.
I am the richest astronaut ever to win the superbowl.
After waiting patiently for the US Government to implement a carbon tax, the ever-altruistic Utah mafia has decided to take matters into their own hands.
what if you're buying a bike and the credit card machine at the bike shop has a skimmer installed?!
We oldsters in the 1970's used to skim gas out of the gas tank. Some of the more ballsier-types would steal whole gas tankers. The fact that you can skim debit cards at the gas pump without spilling gas on yourself is a great technological improvement since you don't have to resell the gas.
> Pull out the concealed Glock...
A "Glock"? Please. That's an Austrian pistol. Every freedom loving American carries an M1911A1.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
Hosers!
You communist. Real Americans carry not one but two pearl-handled, silver-plated Colt .45s, which they are permitted to shoot into the air and shout "yahoo."
Never thought i'd get ripped off by a gas pump.
As a gas pump mechanic, I can say that most of those security features are just security theatre. Anyone with even 1 weeks apprentice knowledge of gas pumps can probably get into most pumps without notice, after hours or not.
Also, a safety vest, hard hat, clip board, fancy business card, and an attitude will get you everywhere. Hell you could probably get them to turn off all their security cameras for "testing" purposes too LOL.
Dear coworker,
That change of clothes just isn't cutting it.
Sincerely,
The cubemates of "The Goat"
what if you're buying a bike and the credit card machine at the bike shop has a skimmer installed?!
Use a car.
Ride 50 miles one way to work on your bicycle.
Not too hard, I'd only need to do it once before my boss fires me for being 4 hours late.
This is your boss. You're fired for slacking off on slashdot.
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
Paying clerks $6.00 an hour to work from midnight to 8:00AM
They still have those? I thought they replaced them all with card readers years ago.
Request a Linux Shockwave player here: http://www.macromedia.com/support/email/wishform/
My grandfather stole horses...
My father smuggled cigarettes...
My brother stole gas...
I, meanwhile, read Slashdot...
Jeesh, you're an embarrassment to your family's 3 generations of nefarious activities! Get your butt in gear and write some malware or something. :-)
I know you're a Brit because you used the word, "Yank" - no one here says that. Few people will even claim to be Yankees.
We laugh at people on the internet for blowing things out of all proportion. It's nicknamed, "a series of tubes," for a reason.
I kept reading your post after I noticed the Score: 1 Flamebait moderation, sometimes they are too silly to pass up. Sorry you tea drinking, haughty twit.
Say American next time. We won't even make fun of you for getting your ass kicked a couple hundred years ago by a bunch of degenerates with pitchforks and your uptight neighbors that have something against shaving.
=P
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