INLET BEACH — Recently, a number of businesses within Bay, Okaloosa and Walton counties have discovered skimming devices installed on gas pumps and automated teller machines (ATMs,) according to a press release sent out by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
In Walton County, a credit card skimmer was found on a pump at a gas station in Inlet Beach.
A skimmer is a device affixed to an ATM or gas pump which intercepts and retrieves credit card information. This information is then used to “clone” credit cards and is either sold or used by thieves to make fraudulent purchases without the owner’s knowledge, officials said.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is offering the following tips to residents:
- Before pumping gas, check to ensure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and does not appear to have been tampered with or altered.
- At gas stations, try to use a pump located closer to the store. Often, skimmers are installed on pumps located outside the view of the store employee.
- If possible, use a credit card in lieu of a debit card so that a PIN number is not utilized and available to thieves.
- Monitor bank accounts for suspicious activity.
If a skimming device is located, contact local law enforcement immediately.