Having information taken from your debit or credit card at the gas pump is a form of identity theft, which contributes to the national average that has been rising for years.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 2.6 million people in the United States were struck by a form of identity theft in 2017, and in the rankings of identity theft per state, Texas was ranked number 12.
With scamming at the pump on the rise, especially in Bell County, Central Texans should know a few things that can be done to better protect their assets, like monitoring accounts.
It’s important to check in on bank accounts daily to ensure their use is not fraudulent.
Use credit cards instead of debit at the gas pump, and if the debit card can be used as a credit card it’s advised to use it as such. It’s better to not enter a pin and instead enter a zip code.
If the card reader at the pump wiggles or, looks tampered with, don’t use it.
If you find that your accounts have been compromised call your bank immediately. Then file a report with the police where the fraud took place.
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