DALLAS – A local Dallas news station reports that police have uncovered Bluetooth skimming devices from five gas stations.

The Dallas Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit has recovered five devices that capture credit/debit card information, as well as the PIN and zip code, of cards used at gas pumps. These devices were inserted inside of the pumps and therefore not identifiable to customers, and the data is transmitted to a laptop located in a vehicle on the station’s lot or in a nearby lot.

Lt. Tony Crawford told the news source that what makes these skimming devices “scary” is the Bluetooth capability, meaning the thief does not have to retrieve the device to recover the data. To prevent skimming from occurring, the police department says that businesses should physically inspect pumps on a regular basis and place tamper evident seals on them.

"When it gets to the point where the bad guy doesn't even have to be there to get the information, it's disconcerting," Crawford said.

Crawford noted that the thieves break into the pump with one of several keys used by station attendants or federal and state officials conducting inspections.

"As technology advances, so should your knowledge of how to protect yourself from high-tech criminal behavior," Crawford said.

Skimming is a top concern for fuel retailers. NACS (in conjunction with Conexxus) and The Pinnacle Corporation have launched the SkimDefend app that works alongside tamper-evident NACS WeCare decals. Together, the decals and app help retailers identify potential security breaches when fuel dispensers or other unattended PIN-entry devices are opened to install skimming mechanisms.

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.

For more on skimming and gas stations, read “Secure Your Pumps” from the May issue of NACS Magazine. Additional skimming resources are also available at nacsonline.com/skimming.