RALEIGH, N.C. – During a month-long sweep of N.C. gasoline stations, the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discovered three skimming devices, WJZY/WMYT-TV reports. Inspectors checked more than 900 gas stations and reviewed more than 8,000 pumps. The skimmers were found in Nash and Mecklenburg counties.

“Our inspectors are at gas stations across the state inspecting gas pumps for accuracy in pricing and gallons sold, as well as fuel quality,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Card skimmers have received a lot of attention in recent months and we really wanted to see what we would find across state.”

If an inspector locates a skimming device, he shuts the pump down, informs the store manager and alerts local law enforcement. The department indicated it would continue to look for skimmers during its routine inspections.

“While three in 8,000 gas dispensers doesn’t seem like a lot, we can’t become complacent in checking for skimmers ourselves,” Gray Taylor, executive director at Conexxus and NACS consultant on card payment security, told NACS Daily.

NACS recently launched it SkimDefend App to help retailers combat skimming. Convenience store operators can download the SkimDefend app free of charge for Apple and Android mobile devices, and the NACS WeCare decals can be purchased at nacsonline.com.

Additional skimming resources are also available at nacsonline.com/skimming.