WACO, Texas — A credit card skimmer was found Tuesday on a pump at a Waco gas station, investigators said.
A Texas Department of Agriculture inspector found the skimmer on pump 5 at the Quick Stop gas station at 3324 Robinson Dr. after receiving a complaint.
According to TDA, the Russian and Cuban mafias are responsible for several skimmers around Texas, including Central Texas.
"They've been migrating. They started off in Tyler and we hit them hard there," TDA commissioner Sid Miller said. "They picked up and moved and went to Katy, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. This is the first time we've seen one in Waco. We assume that Waco and Temple is going to be their target for a while until we put some heat on them until they decide they can't get away with it and they will pick up and move again."
The Waco Police Department was called to the station where a suspected Bluetooth skimmer was removed by a technician and taken by police.
The Waco Police Department issued the following tips for customers who pay with credit cards at the pump:
- Use pump closest to storefront, in line of sight for store personnel
- Before pumping, check for unusual Bluetooth signals with ID of string of numbers and letters; might be a skimmer
- Check that security tape on pump cabinet has not been damaged. Torn tape might indicate cabinet opened without store personnel's knowledge
- Safest bet is to pay inside with cash
- Always save the receipt and monitor your bank statements after filling up.
If you think you've been skimmed, contact 1-800-TELL-TDA and we will send an inspector to check it out.
The TDA said it looks for illegal credit card skimmers as part of its consumer protection responsibilities for more than 400,000 fuel pumps statewide.
TDA encourages consumers to be aware at the fuel pump. If the credit card scanner looks like it has been tampered with, move to another pump or pay inside, TDA said. If you notice fraudulent charges on your account, contact your financial institution immediately.
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