Credit Card Skimmers Targeting Gilbarco Pumps
Older Gilbarco fuel pumps at Texas fuel stations are the latest target for credit card skimming.
Nov 20, 2018
GAITHERSBURG, Maryland - The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) told Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) that credit card skimmers are focusing efforts on older Gilbarco fuel pumps at Texas-based retail fuel stations.
An official at the TDA said that there “could be older Gilbarco pumps at Valero stations in Houston, adding that in Austin there could be older Gilbarco pumps at 7-11 retail stations.”
They aren’t preying on a specific retail fuel brand, but the TDA’s report does show the addresses of affected stations—finding that the majority of reported card skimming incidents in Houston have occurred at Valero-branded stations.
"We actively monitor credit card transactions made with Valero credit cards to look for possible fraudulent activity,” said a Valero spokeswoman to OPIS. “While Valero does not own or operate any convenience stores, we work with the station owner, who is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the gas pumps."
Fuel station owners are advised to use best practices such as using secure lock dispensers, installing anti-tampering security seals and conducting pump inspections.
According to Jesus Azansa, director of marketing and communications for the Texas Food & Fuel Association (TFFA), the organization “is committed to working with retailers, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and consumers to combat credit card skimming at the pump. In a state as large as Texas, where retail transactions for fuel in 2017 totaled 1.2 billion, a skimming incident at a convenience store occurs once every 1.5 million transactions. While one incident of credit card skimming is one too many, retailers in Texas continue to take pride in protecting customer information.
Understandably, not all convenience stores have the financial means to make upgrades to their equipment, leaving some more vulnerable than others. TFFA encourages its members (and all retailers) to remain vigilant of criminal activity, stay up to date with the latest anti-theft hardware and software, and ensure stores have an active anti-theft operational strategy in place.”
Since 2017, there have been 1,413 reported skimming cases at Texas retail stations. A small percentage of skimming devices were recovered in these cases, attributed to some station owners and skimmers taking off the devices before TDA officials arrived.
