Fuel Pumps Latest Target in New Credit Card Scam

EARLY, TEXAS – Within the past several days, reports of skimmers at fuel pumps have been popping up in areas across Early and Brownwood, Texas. Card skimming allows thieves to illegally collect data from the magnetic strip of a credit, debit, or ATM card and copy it onto another bankcard’s magnetic strip. This action gives thieves the opportunity to make illegal purchases or withdraw cash in the name of the actual cardholder.

Early and Brownwood have been the recent location for the thieves. In a Facebook post, the Early Police Department wrote:

"Police received a report of a skimmer in a fuel pump in the 100 block of Early Boulevard on March 3. The skimmer was located by a pump maintenance man who notified police when he found it. The skimmer appears to be identical to the one Brownwood police investigated earlier the same day. Early police will be working with Brownwood and the stores to identify a suspect.

"Early Police Department urges everyone to monitor their credit card bills and report any unauthorized transactions."

Above: Example of security sticker across a fuel pump's service door. 

For those paying with card at fuel pumps, Early PD has offered some tips on how to stay safe from skimming.

Skimmers are usually hard to spot without getting into the pump; however, most gas stations will have a security sticker over the service door opening. Should the sticker be tampered with in any way, notify the store clerk or manager immediately.

For residents living in either Early or Brownwood, and have recently seen someone accessing fuel pumps at any store that did not appear to be an authorized pump service technician, or may have had a computer plugged into the secure are of a pump,  please contact either the Early or Brownwood Police Department.

For residents in San Angelo with any fear or suspicion of local skimming taking place, please contact the local police department.