Officials look for skimmers

CELINA - Skimming credit card information from gas pumps is on the rise, and local officials are joining a statewide effort to stop the crime.

Mercer County Auditor Randy Grapner, sheriff Jeff Grey and county weight and measures inspector Doug Eshelman spoke at the Eastown Party Mart Shell station Thursday about their efforts.

Thieves attach the electronic skimmers to gas pumps to collect credit or debit card information from unsuspecting customers. The pumps continue to function as normal with the devices attached.

"It's a huge problem in Florida and a growing problem here in Ohio," Grapner said. "If we can get ahead and make sure the retailers are doing everything they can, it's in all our best interest."

Beginning Thursday about 80 inspectors from 60 counties started a sweep of more than 12,000 pumps at more than 1,200 gas stations in search of the devices. The sweep comes after at least 30 skimmers were located across the state in the past year, Eshelman said.

The special inspection has been deemed the Statewide Skimmer Sweep, according to an auditor's office news release.

None have been found in Mercer County, Grapner noted. The nearest skimmer was discovered in February at the Circle K gas station in Botkins. If a skimmer is found on a gas pump, the site becomes a crime scene and law enforcement becomed involved.

Preventive measures are in place at some gas pumps to deter the installation of the skimmers. The most visible to consumers is a safety sticker that is typically placed over the seam of the gas pump where the internal electronics can be accessed.

"If we can get people to look at that and if that tape is broken, then don't use that pump. Let the staff know," Grey said.

Grapner said he enjoys the convenience of paying for gas at the pump but now pays extra attention to see if the pumps have the safety sticker intact.

Grey added people traveling from county to county need to be alert at all gas stations because this occurs across the state and country.

Gas station employees are encouraged to check the pumps to ensure the stickers are in place and no tampering has occurred during each work shift, Grapner said.

"We can't be here 24/7. Once we're done, it's up to gas station employees to check," he said.

With improved technology, hackers have an easier time with the devices, Grapner said. The skimmers previously had to be attached and removed before a thief could access the data. Now, Bluetooth technology allows the data to be collected remotely, possibly more than 100 yards away.

Checking for the skimmers on pumps is relatively easy, Eshelman said. Inspectors open up the access hatch on a gas pump and look for a small device that has been attached to wires transferring card data.

Eshelman regularly inspects card readers at gas stations and any other retailer, such as Menard's or Walmart, that sell items by weight, he said.

One concern Grapner and Eshelman have is some pumps still can be opened with a hex key. The pumps at Shell feature a special-cut key to access the interior of a pump, Grapner said.

"We've got to get the word out to everybody to keep your eyes open," he said. "Some station owners need to step it up and change the locks on their pumps."

Some new pumps are equipped with alarms that notify staff or shut down the pump if it has been tampered with, Eshelman said.

He said rural-area gas stations are increasingly being targeted by thieves because the pumps might not be checked as often and may not have the updated security measures.

"We read about this in the papers and expect it in the big cities or along the interstate. We don't expect it in Celina or Fort Recovery," Grey said.

It is very difficult for law enforcements to make an arrest after a pump has been compromised by a skimmer, he added.

"Stepping up and preventing people from becoming a victim is the best way to do it because the chances of us, the highway patrol or anybody catching them is slim," Grey said.

Using a credit card at the pump is better than a debit card because credit card charges can be disputed while a debit card is a direct route to a bank account, Eshelman said.

Grapner said he doesn't want people to give up the convenience of paying for gas at the pump, however, he noted the safest option is to prepay with cash or a card inside the station.

Two skimmers were located in Sandusky and Huron counties early this week, Eshelman said. These counties also have signed up for the weekend inspection.

"Hopefully they get all 88 counties to join in the effort one day," Grey said.

The data collected from the 60-county sweep will be compiled by the Montgomery County Auditor's Office, which is acting as the lead for the operation, and be reported back to the counties, Grapner said.

Other local counties participating in the initiative include Auglaize, Darke and Van Wert.