AURORA, Colo. - Aurora Police have issued a crime alert to gas stations throughout the city, warning them about the discovery of a credit card skimming device found inside a gas pump earlier this month.
A skimming device captures people's financial information from the magnetic strip on the back of credit or debit cards. Thieves then use card and PIN numbers to clone credit cards or make online purchases.
Police suspect someone used a generic gas pump key to get inside and then placed the skimmer directly to the bank card reader.
"I feel very unsafe about that. If I put my personal information into the gas pump and someone takes it out, God knows what they could be doing with that information," said gas customer Alex Grant.
Because the skimmer is hidden inside it's impossible to detect, unlike skimmers used on ATMs.
"You could see the device was attached to the outside, so you could see there was something there," said Ed Sena, who has seen pictures of ATM skimmers.
Some customers said this was a frightening find that will force them to be more cautious with their credit cards.
"I think we need to be vigilant, but my way of protection is to protect my credit card," said Terry Combs. He has a credit card that's monitored for suspicious activity.
And for others, it reinforces the perils of plastic.
"I go and get my cash from the bank. I don't use them in machines because I don't trust them. I can't," said Patti Pyle.
Police are asking gas stations throughout the city to check inside their pumps for the devices and to watch for anyone within 50 yards of their business using a laptop, since they could be retrieving financial information wirelessly.
They are also advised to consider surveillance video at the pumps.
A skimming device captures people's financial information from the magnetic strip on the back of credit or debit cards. Thieves then use card and PIN numbers to clone credit cards or make online purchases.
Police suspect someone used a generic gas pump key to get inside and then placed the skimmer directly to the bank card reader.
"I feel very unsafe about that. If I put my personal information into the gas pump and someone takes it out, God knows what they could be doing with that information," said gas customer Alex Grant.
Because the skimmer is hidden inside it's impossible to detect, unlike skimmers used on ATMs.
"You could see the device was attached to the outside, so you could see there was something there," said Ed Sena, who has seen pictures of ATM skimmers.
Some customers said this was a frightening find that will force them to be more cautious with their credit cards.
"I think we need to be vigilant, but my way of protection is to protect my credit card," said Terry Combs. He has a credit card that's monitored for suspicious activity.
And for others, it reinforces the perils of plastic.
"I go and get my cash from the bank. I don't use them in machines because I don't trust them. I can't," said Patti Pyle.
Police are asking gas stations throughout the city to check inside their pumps for the devices and to watch for anyone within 50 yards of their business using a laptop, since they could be retrieving financial information wirelessly.
They are also advised to consider surveillance video at the pumps.
