Card Skimmer Used to Steal Credit Card Info Found at Michigan Gas Station

Here we go again with these card skimmers.

A high-tech card skimmer was recently found in a pump at a gas station in Gladwin. It was found during an inspection by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

What is a card skimmer?

For those that don't know what a card skimmer is, let me fill you in. A credit card skimming device reads the magnetic stripe on your credit or debit card when you slide it into a card reader at an ATM, gas pump or other points of sale. The skimmer then stores the card number, expiration date and cardholder's name. Not gonna lie, it's pretty scary stuff.

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According to WNEM, the device was found at Cimarron Convenience Stores on 796 East M-30 in Gladwin. The device is operated via Bluetooth, which means a thief can access information without removing the device from the pump. That's what makes it more high-tech compared to other card skimmers.

How to detect gas pump skimmers

The majority of people wouldn't even know if there was a card skimmer in a gas pump. That's why it's really important to check the pump panel for tampering. A lot of gas stations will place a tamper-resistant seal over the locking door on the front of the pump. If the tamper-resistant seal is broken, don't use it.

Also, if you try to wiggle the card slot and if it seems too loose, or strangely bulkier than the other pumps at the same station, don't use it.

What to do if you feel your information was compromised

If you visited this gas station during a recent trip up north and feel that your information was stolen, contact your bank right away.

Every time I hear about someone's credit card info being stolen due to a card skimmer at a gas station, I start paying with cash again. However, with gas prices as high as they are right now, you won't find me carrying that kind of cash around. I mean, it costs me damn near $80 to fill up my truck.