LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – With the long Memorial Day weekend and summer travel season coming up, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles reminds Kentucky motorists that Kentucky Department of Agriculture inspectors are on the lookout for credit card skimmers in motor fuel pumps across the Commonwealth.
An improvement in technology has all but ended the practice of credit card skimming for at least one gas station chain.
Speedway Convenience stores are making skimming a thing of the past by using a more secure card reader at their pumps.
“We’ve installed over 15,000 of these card readers at Speedway stores across the country, and have not had a single skimming incident since,” Brian Lafreniere, the Senior Director of Engineering at Speedway said during a press conference Friday.
If you aren’t at a station using this new technology, it is in your best interest to use a pump as close to the store attendant as possible. That will make it less likely that a pump has been tampered with. Always be aware of a card reader that’s been altered, seems broken or has a loose card reader.
Skimmers can be installed by criminals within a matter of seconds and it can take them even less time to access your cards or bank accounts.
“Each credit card identity theft victim loses on average $1,100 dollar a year,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said.
A few seconds to double check your pump’s card reader could save you hours of time later.
