Just grab it and wiggle it to see if it’s loose. Also, don't fill up at the tanks far out of the sight of the station attendant. Y our eyes, fingers and now even your smartphone may be able to help you spot card skimmers at gas pumps and ATMs, but nothing is foolproof. CINCINNATI — Credit card skimmers have hit local gas stations hard — and thieves don't even have to break into the pumps to do it. Experts also note an increase in gas pump skimmers. Skimmer (somewhere) inside a gas pump. With summer in full swing and travel on the rise, officials are reminding consumers to stay aware and look out for credit card skimmers at the gas pump. crime & safety Card Skimmers At Gas Pumps: How To Spot Them See how to spot credit card skimmers and learn simple steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim. As the Oklahoma case shows, gas pump skimmers have moved from analog, clunky things to the level of workmanship and attention to detail that is normally only seen in ATM skimmers. If the pump panel is opened, the label will read "void." Five of those were in Brevard County, three in St. Lucie County and a pair in Martin County. An overlay skimmer is one that fits over the card reader slot of an ATM or gas pump. This should be a routine you do every single time you use a card at a gas pump or ATM. As customers swipe their cards into the skimmer, the device saves and stores card information immediately. First, check to see if there's a lock on the pump which will keep thieves out. Detective Thomas writes: I read the post you did with my picture. Gas station credit card skimmers are external devices that thieves attach over a real credit card slot at a gas station pump. FTC offers tips to avoid getting scammed at the pump. Beware of Gas Station Credit Card Skimmers. If you ever encounter a skimming device, contact the ATM owner and the local police as soon as possible. Are they easy to spot or virtually unnoticeable? That’s up from more than 650 pumps last year and nearly 220 in 2016. Florida, for example, tracks the number of skimmers found at gas stations. How to Spot Skimmers and Protect Yourself. Credit card skimmers are getting more advanced -- but that's making them easier to detect. A lot of you have been asking to see what a skimmer looks like before it's yanked off an ATM. Before you use your card at a gas station or ATM, always check the card reader. Breaking news from Las Vegas Metro’s Kim Thomas, the fraud cop featured in my story on credit card skimmers hidden in gas pumps. Skimmers are often found at outdoor ATMs or payment machines. EMV chip technology has reduced fraud at the checkout counter since the EMV liability shift in October 2015. For old or low-quality overlay skimmers, there are a few things you can look for. If the reader is loose, do not use it. Many of you will be heading out for the upcoming Labor Day holiday next week.You’ll drive to a weekend getaway. Gas pump inspections in recent weeks have led to state officials collecting 259 skimmers. You might also be careful with card-swiping slots at gas pumps, vending machines, at airports, or malls. Florida inspectors are on pace to find card skimmers in about 1,000 gas pumps in 2018, according to the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. What to look for: If a credit card slot looks different from the other card readers at the station, it might be a setup for a …