According to the state's Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation’s Division of Standards, gas station fuel pumps are increasingly being targeted by thieves using skimmers to steal credit and debit card information.

A letter was sent in December to more than fifty gas dispenser servicing companies seeking their cooperation in reporting to local law enforcement and the Division of Standards any skimming devices they discover either affixed to a gas pump or installed within the pump’s upper chamber. In just two weeks, gas pump skimmer discoveries were made in Hingham, Westwood and Bridgewater.

Skimmers are small electronic devices that either collect or transmit credit and debit card data to thieves, who then either sell or use the financial information to engage in identity theft and fraud. Thieves typically access the inside of fuel pumps to install skimmers using universal keys which are available for purchase online. All 2,600 service station owners and operators in the Commonwealth have been reminded recently to regularly check their fuel pumps for evidence of tampering and skimming devices.

“Consumers who routinely use plastic at the pumps need to be wary of the increasing frequency with which skimmers are being found,” said Consumer Affairs Undersecretary John Chapman. “If you see something that doesn’t look right at the pump or notice a broken security seal, notify the attendant immediately and consider paying for your gas inside the service station.”

According to The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, consumers should take the following steps to minimize their risk of being a victim of skimming identity theft and fraud:

• Pay with cash or credit/debit cards inside the service station.

• If you must use plastic at the pump, use your credit card. This will limit your liability to $50, protect your PIN number, and prevent a thief from having direct access to your bank account.

• Inspect the card reader and gas pump for broken security seals and any evidence of tampering or forced entry. If identified, notify the station attendant and contact local law enforcement.

• Use gas pumps that are closest to the service station attendant.

• Monitor your bank and credit card accounts regularly. Notify your bank or card issuer immediately if you spot withdrawals or charges that you never made.

• If your financial information has been stolen, file a police report, a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, and contact the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and Trans Union) to ensure no credit applications have been made in your name.