How You Could Fall Prey To A Debit Card Skimming Scam

You pull into a gas station and pull out your debit card. Swiping it through the card reader, you enter your PIN and pump your gas. It's a simple transaction millions do every day.

But in some cases, scammers may have installed what's called a “skimmer” on the gas pump that steals your card information and your PIN. A recent case in California demonstrates just how dangerous this scam can be.

Two men were sentenced to prison this week for their role in stealing more than $90,000 from some 200 people in Northern California by using skimming devices at gas stations. In this case, the thieves were able to install the devices inside the gas pumps and so that consumers were completely unaware.

In March, the California Attorney General's Office took over prosecution of the case from the Contra Costa District Attorney's office because the crimes occurred in multiple jurisdictions throughout Northern California. An amended complaint was filed in October. 

High-tech crime spree

In their high-tech crime spree, the gang traveled to gas stations across the Bay Area in a rented car. From November 2009 to February 2010, they are believed to have stolen $90,000 from 196 people through their skimming scheme. 

How did they get access to the machines? Authorities say the thieves acquired keys to unlock various kinds of gas station pumps.

Once they opened the pumps, they were able to connect two cables inside to their two-inch electronic device, which looked like a circuit board encased in electrical tape, and recorded ATM and credit card data as well as victims' PINs. No tampering was visible on the outside of the pumps. The gang would later return to retrieve the skimmers, which took less than 20 seconds. 

The investigation began last February when police in Solano and Contra Costa counties reported an increase in identity theft and a 7-Eleven store employee in Martinez noticed a skimming device inside a gas pump. Police removed the device, replaced it with a mock device and conducted 24-hour surveillance.

Two defendants were arrested when they arrived to remove the device. In total, seven devices were found inside gas pumps in Martinez, Benicia, Livermore, Hayward, Oakland, San Mateo and Sacramento. 

Banks have reimbursed the victims, according to the California Attorney General's Office. In this case, there was no way for consumers to know a skimming device had been installed, which makes this case so troubling. However, when using a debit card at a gas pump, consumers should look for signs of tampering. In some cases, skimming devices are installed over the normal card reader.