Had a rough week after my credit card got skimmed at a Pilot in Kansas

Last Tuesday I stopped for fuel in Wichita and used the pump at the Pilot off I-35. Three days later my bank called asking about $400 in charges from some sketchy website in Malaysia. Now I only pay inside with cash or use a dedicated virtual card number for gas purchases. Anybody got a good way to check ATMs and pump readers for skimmers without looking like a weirdo?

3 comments

3 Comments

paulw531mo ago

I had my card skimmed at a Pilot in Missouri a couple years back. Same deal, random charges showed up. Now I do the same as you, pay inside with cash or use a virtual card. For checking pumps, I just give the reader a good wiggle with my hand. If it moves at all or feels loose, I go inside. Works fine and nobody pays attention. Also try to use pumps that are right by the front door or under a bright light. Thieves hate those.

ivan7741mo ago

Man I gotta say I think people kinda overreact to this stuff sometimes. Yeah it sucks getting skimmed but banks are pretty good about refunding fraudulent charges these days. Last time my card got hit I had the money back in my account within 48 hours just from a quick phone call. Wiggling every pump reader you use sounds like a total hassle for something that might not even happen again for years. Plus most modern pumps have those tamper-evident stickers and newer card readers that are way harder to mess with than the old ones. Honestly just keep an eye on your account every few days and you're fine without turning into a pump inspector.

phoenix_bailey1mo ago

Yeah "tamper evident stickers" lol I busted one of those on a pump at a gas station in Arkansas and it was just peeled back and stuck to the side. The whole reader came off in my hand with some double sided tape. I do the wiggle thing too now and it's saved me twice in like three years. Banks are good about refunds but it's still a headache dealing with it and waiting for a new card in the mail. I'd rather spend two seconds wiggling than a week without my debit card and a bunch of calls to sort out.