‘Check the Card Slot as Well:’ Chevron Customer Issues Warning on Using Tap-To-Pay for Gas. Then He Shows What to Look For
'They got me for [$]100.00.'
People may be aware of credit card skimmers being used to steal credit card information, but it can get worse. A man recently issued a warning about a scam that takes advantage of the tap-to-pay option at gas stations.
The Real Educated Maniac (@therealeducatedmaniac) warned viewers on TikTok about being on alert when using tap-to-pay systems, as thieves have been targeting customers while they fill up their gas tanks. He says people should only use them if they’ve checked that they are above board.
“I’m about to show you one example of the tap-to-pay scam, and this one’s at the gas station,” the creator says before walking up to a Chevron gas station pump.
He says that before people just put their phone or card up to the reader, they should check to see if it is legitimate.
According to the TikToker, scammers take “a little black strip” with a symbol on it that looks identical to the one on legitimate tap-to-pay readers. He says they then place this strip on top of the reader.
He goes on to explain that the sticker has a chip in it that captures credit card information when one is held up to make a payment. The danger is that the transaction usually goes through, so people don’t even realize what has happened until it’s too late.
The man suggests scratching at the corner of the reader to see if the sticker comes off.
Other Instances of Gas Station Scams
In Aurora, Colorado, the police department issued an alert to the public about another scam involving the contactless payment system at gas stations.
According to the Economic Crimes Division, scammers are drilling holes into the sensor that reads the card information. This forces customers to swipe their cards to pay, at which point thieves steal their information using skimming devices.
What Should You Do If You Spot a Suspicious Sticker?
The Aurora police advise that the best defense against contactless payment scams is to be alert when fueling up your car. Be sure to carefully check the payment reader for holes, stickers, or anything else unusual before using it to pay.
If you see something unusual, alert a gas station employee. You may also consider filing a police report.
Viewers Express Their Gratitude
The Real Educated Maniac garnered over 121,000 views on his post. Several viewers were thankful for the PSA.
“Thank you for posting this. I’m so tired of these scammers,” one wrote.
“Thank you! They BEEN doing this,” said another seemingly unsurprised commenter.
“They have some readers that can be put in the store as well,” another user warned.
Some even added their own advice and tips for paying at the gas station.
“I use a prepaid card that I add money to. To the exact amount that I’m going to pump, but thank you for the tip,” one person suggested.
“Apple Pay uses encryption to protect your data during transactions and to keep financial information secure. Your actual card number is never stored on your de[v]ice or transmitted to merchants,” one proponent of digital wallets said. Another person similarly recommended the Samsung wallet.
“I pay with cash,” commented someone else.
Motor1 reached out to The Real Educated Maniac via email for further comment. This story will be updated should he respond.
Update July 11 9:45 a.m. ET: In an email to Motor1, the TikToker said, "Another way to identify if the tap to pay reader may have been messed with is when you go to use it and it reads the card, but then it says the card is declined when you know the card shouldn’t decline, if that’s the case then after the first time it declines, then you shouldn’t use it anymore because that means that terminal has been compromised or messed with before so the original signal from the tap to pay terminal won’t work like it’s supposed to work because it’s been messed with before."
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