Beware, Card Skimmers Back at Gas Pumps in Temple, Texas

You've probably heard warnings about credit card skimmers stealing information, right? On top of gas prices rising, paying at the pump can be more risky than ever to your bank account in Central Texas.

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On a local neighborhood Facebook page, a recent post detailed how a visit to a Temple, Texas gas station resulted in unwanted charges on a credit card after a fill-up at an outside pump.

Credit Card Skimmers

A 'card skimming' device is a plastic shell with a keypad overlay that fits over the actual card reader. When you put your card in a skimmer, it reads the information and sends it to thieves.

Skimmers can be installed on almost anything that can take a credit or debit card, including ATMs, according to Forbes Advisor. The device records your card information, then an actual card with your information can be created, resulting in fraudulent charges to your card.

Credit Card Fraud in Central Texas

A post this week on a local neighborhood Facebook page warned fellow users that after stopping at a Cefco near Temple College, over $100 in fradulent charges showed up on the poster's credit card. The person said there was nothing visible on the pump to indicate that it was compromised.

Another poster stated the same thing happened to them at the H-E-B gas pumps on 31st Street in Temple.

How to Avoid Credit Card Skimmers

The best way to prevent your bank account from being victimized is to pay for your purchase inside, however cases of fraud have been reported there as well.

The most frightening scam I've personally heard about was a report earlier this year, when a woman says she discovered a skimmer inside a convenience store in McKinney, Texas.

According to mybanktracker.com, two ways to keep your credit card information safe include using a skimmer scanner app, and use your card's chip instead of the magnetic stripe. Pay attention at the pump, and if you see something, say something!