Expand / Collapse search
☰

Card skimmers found on 6 pumps at South Tampa gas station

Published  July 22, 2019 10:29pm EDT
Tampa Bay
FOX 13 Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Credit card skimmers were found on six pumps at a South Tampa gas station Friday.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service is inspecting gas pumps as part of a statewide crackdown on the devices.

Skimmers were found on pumps 1-6 at the 1 Stepp Food Store and Marathon gas station, located at 4001 S. MacDill Avenue, during an inspection July 19, according to records obtained from the state.

Since July 1, 17 skimmers have been found on pumps at Bay Area gas stations.

Three skimmers were found at the Jump Start Gas & Deli/BP, on Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon; one was found July 2 and two more were found July 16.

In Clearwater, a Bluetooth skimmer was found July 16 on a pump at 7-Eleven on North Belcher Road.

Two skimmers were found at Perfect Station/Sunoco on Belcher Road in Dunedin July 2.

At a 7-Eleven in Seffner, a skimmer was found on a pump July 15.

In Northeast Tampa, three skimmers were found July 2 on pumps at Hamners Mobil on Fletcher Ave.

At a Citgo gas station in Land O Lakes, one skimmer was found July 3.

One skimmer was found at the Quick In Quick Out Food Store/Citgo on N Washington Blvd. in Sarasota July 16.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service gives the following tips to protect yourself from credit card skimmer fraud:

- Pay in cash or use a credit card inside the store.
- Check for security tape on pump locks or seams indicating the pump has been inspected.
- Check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and does not appear to have been tampered with.
- Use a gas pump closer to the front of the store.
- Use a credit card chip reader if it is available.
- If using a debit card at the pump, choose to run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN number.
- Monitor bank and credit card accounts regularly to spot any unauthorized charges.

Consumers who suspect their credit card number has been compromised should report it immediately to authorities and their credit card company.