Naples police remove credit card skimmer from gas station pump

Naples police are investigating after a credit card skimmer device was found last week during a routine inspection at a Mobil gas station.

The skimmer, which was found Friday at a pump at the gas station at 3391 Ninth Street North, was removed, police said in a news release Monday.

Police are working to identify the individual who installed the device, figure out how long the skimmer was installed and whether any credit card information was compromised, the release stated.

"The use of a gas pump skimmer is a lucrative venture thieves utilize to gain access to credit card information and PIN numbers from consumers," the release stated. "Skimmers may include transmitting data by way of Bluetooth, and can access the
data with a laptop computer or cellular device, without having to directly access the skimmer device."

More:A look at credit card skimmers and how to prevent fraud

More:Card skimmers found at Naples gas station

New credit card skimming devices are simply "a series of wires" that individuals can insert into the pump, said Lt. Seth Finman, a Naples police spokesman.

But those techniques only work on older gas pumps, he said.

To safeguard information at the pump, authorities advise customers to pay in cash or inside the store, check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with and look for tampered security seals.

Police also suggest using a pump closer to the entrance of the store, because thieves often place skimmers at pumps that are farther away from the store.

Customers should try to use a credit card instead of a debit card, because they have better fraud protection and the money is not deducted immediately from an account, according to the release.

If customers use a debit card at the pump, they should run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN, the release stated.

Authorities also advise patrons to monitor bank accounts regularly for unauthorized charges. Customers who suspect their credit card number has been compromised should report it, the release stated.