A device that steals credit card numbers, known as a skimmer, was found Sunday inside a pump at a gas station, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reports.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 7-Eleven in the 5000 block of Clark Road at about 7 p.m. when a service tech discovered the device. The skimmer was removed.
The Sheriff’s Office advises customers who have purchased gas at this station to check their bank statements for any suspicious transactions, no matter how small the amount.
The Sheriff’s Office offers these safety tips:
- Pay with cash inside the store when possible. If you don’t have cash, use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards have better fraud protection.
- Check for signs of tampering at the pump. This includes a broken security seal over the pumps’s door. If something seems out of place, notify gas station personnel.
- Monitor bank statements regularly to spot unauthorized charges. If something doesn’t add up, contact your bank immediately.
Anyone with information regarding this skimmer should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 941-861-4900 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.