Protect Your Money: 7 Steps To Avoid Gas Station Scams

It's best to live with the mindset that some people are trying to separate you from your hard-earned money. Scammers are getting crafty and they're downright evil and annoying. A recent post by C. L. on the Neighborhood app is a great reminder when pumping gas.

"Just a heads up to check the pumps when you buy gas. I bought gas with a credit card at the Casey's on N Kiwanis this week. Later that same day, someone tried to charge a $200 gift card to that account. Luckily, my card company flagged it but now I have to replace that card. This happens pretty frequently everywhere."

But how can you prevent this? Experts on Google AI Overview say use the following these 7 guidelines:

Check for a security seal: Many gas pumps have a tamper-proof seal or sticker over the card reader panel. If the sticker is missing or torn, a thief may have tampered with it.

Inspect the card reader: Check for misalignment between the card reader and the panel underneath it. If the buttons are off-center or hard to push, avoid using the card reader.

Use an anti-skimming app: You can install an app like Skimmer Scanner on your phone to scan a card reader for a skimming device.

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Choose a pump near the cashier: Criminals are less likely to apply skimmers near the attendant.

Use your phone or pay with the attendant: Paying through the app or inside with an attendant might offer more protection.

Use a chip card: Chip cards are designed to be safer than magnetic stripe cards.

Check your statements: Regularly check your statements for any abnormal charges.