LANSING, Mich. — More than a year after the first credit card skimmer was discovered inside a pump at a Grand Rapids gas station, skimmers are still a problem, says the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the state agency that inspects commercial gas pumps.
Skimmers copy your credit card information for use in fraudulent purchases.
“Approximately 70 credit card skimmers have been found and removed from gas pumps statewide since last year,” said MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams in a statement issued Thursday. Adams urged gas station owners to increase inspections of their pumps while authorities try to crack down on such consumer fraud.
Adams said station owners should change locks, use security cameras, and use tamper-proof security tape.
MDARD posted a YouTube video in 2015 demonstrating a pump inspection and offering tips for consumers, such as frequently checking credit card statements.
