Card ‘skimming’ device found at local gas station

It was bound to happen sometime.

The discovery of a credit-card skimming machine at a San Marcos gas station July 6 has prompted police to issue a warning to consumers.

Credit card skimmers are a device used by thieves to steal data from the magnetic strip on the back of a credit or debit card, police said. They can also record PIN numbers.

The skimming device was at the Exxon station at the intersection of Wonder World Drive and the East Access Road on pump #12. It was removed, and a suspect is being sought in connection with the incident.

The San Marcos Police Department, through its Facebook page, recommends the following precautions:

• If using an ATM, use one under video surveillance or inside a bank lobby. They are less likely to have been tampered with.
• Pay careful attention to what the card reader and keypad normally look like. If it doesn’t look right, don’t use it.
• Never use an ATM or pump if its card reader appears to be added on, fits poorly or is loose. Some thieves place a fake box over the card slot that reads and records account and PIN numbers.
• Call the customer service number on the ATM immediately if a machine appears suspicious or if it does not function property.
•  Also call police. 

Once thieves have the information that can be skimmed from a credit card they can manufacture counterfeit cards, make purchases and withdraw funds from your accounts.