RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia law enforcement have reported a bump in credit card skimmers, WWBT-TV reports. Across the country, thieves are putting card readers in pumps to steal credit and debit card numbers.

Across the country in Michigan, state inspectors have discovered more skimming devices of late, WOOD-TV reports. “Between us and what the state police have taken, I’d estimate somewhere close to 20 victims at least that we know of so far,” said Ionia County Sheriff Dale Miller of a device uncovered at one local gas station pump.

“It’s my understanding that it’s relatively easy to place them [skimmers] and to remove them. It’s just as quick, and simple. Open up the front of the gas pump or whatever device you’re talking about, snap them in and it’s just as quick to take them out,” added Miller.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to have trouble with skimming devices, with one sweep last month uncovering 81 skimmers attached to pumps. Over the past years, retailers nationwide have deployed a number of methods to help fight skimming fraud at their pumps.

One method is using security tape over the pump door. If that tape is broken, it alerts attendants that the pumps have been tampered with. Another tactic is training attendants in what to look for on video. If someone is purposely blocking the pump from the video camera, it's a pretty good indicator that something may be wrong. Retailers are also encouraged to change the lock on gas pumps regularly.

Industry leaders are also working on a more technologically advanced way to combat skimming, for example credit card readers that encrypt data. So when someone installs a skimmer device, the information comes back as scrambled numbers. That technology is still a few years away from implementation at gas stations.

NACS can help retailers protect their business and their customers from skimming attempts with WeCare decals.