Fishers PD works to stop gas skimmers: ‘It’s not getting any easier’
FISHERS, Ind (WISH) – With many parts coming from overseas, officers have a hard time fighting a crime that targets unsuspecting customers.
Each day, millions of Americans fill up so they can keep up with their daily lives. But lately, there’s something more terrifying than the price of fuel.
“It’s scary,” Fishers resident, Stephen Weathersby said. “When you go gas, pumping gas is so common, you know, it’s one of those things you don’t think about, but now that everyone is trying to get you.”
“Makes me very nervous,” Fishers resident, Mona Clayton said. “In fact I’ve tried to switch over to remember to use cash every time at the gas station.”
A gas pump skimming device is what they’re afraid of and It’s a device used to steal credit card information.
Fishers police have found several at area stations. If attached, a swipe of a card, and a criminal is able to get card numbers.
It’s a crime that keeps Fishers Detective Dean Mucha busy.
“There’s so many victims that we have now a lot of the banks are working with their customers themselves and not even filing police reports,” Detective Mucha said.
With so many victims, Detective Mucha would like to do more.
“It is not getting any easier. In fact, it’s probably getting more difficult,” Detective Mucha said.
The reason, Detective Mucha says people are getting parts on the internet.
“We don’t know where they’re coming from, and a lot of times it does originate overseas,” Detective Mucha said.
On EBay, he found dozens of card skimmers, and their parts. They are items he said aren’t illegal to buy, after all, some business owners need them.
However, the parts are available to anybody. As far as tracking the purchases, Detective Mucha said it’s impossible because of who is selling them.
“The products are being brought in from overseas, and we really can’t go much out of that jurisdiction to reach out and try to combat the problem,” Detective Mucha said.
This doesn’t mean officers can’t do anything. Detective Mucha has been educating local owners, and keeping tabs with other law enforcement across the country.
“There’s a big network of law enforcement community that are talking and sharing similarities between their cases,” Detective Mucha said.
Help from gas stations is on the way. Soon, they’ll be required to accept credit card chips at the pumps, which will make it harder for thieves.
Problem is, gas companies don’t have to switch for a year and half.
“If we have to put up with this for a year, it’s hard telling the number of victims that we’ll see,” Detective Mucha said.
Not exactly what customers want to hear. “It scares me,” Clayton said. “It’s going exponentially fast now, technology and we can’t keep up with the criminals.”
The criminals she said, always, it seems, stay one step ahead.
The best way to avoid being a victim, is to pay inside. If you don’t, check bank statements often, and contact your bank, and police if you notice something is wrong.
