Fraudsters keep innovating to get to their end. At gas stations, criminals use much more subtle techniques to steal money from people who fill up. How do they proceed? Above all, how to avoid falling into their well-woven nets?
After their visit to the gas station, some people realize that they were the victims of a scam done right. While paying for their fuel, they were subjected to credit card fraud.
A gas station. source: spm
As with ATMs, the risks of card cloning are quite high! In fact, fraudsters can insert an illegal card reader into the ATM to copy your card details and then steal your money through fraudulent transactions.
In 2016, customers of a service station located in Breteuil were victims of a hacking of their bank cards. The scammer had installed a skimmer on the ATM (a skimmer is a device that scammers connect to an ATM – ATM – to clone their victims’ bank card details).
In addition, in the Parisian region a scam was discovered in eleven car parks or service stations between February and April of this year, according to the newspaper twenty minutes.fr. This is the installation of pirate boxes attached to the terminal.
To protect yourself against this type of scam, it is best to take precautionary measures.
In addition to paying in cash, other precautions should be taken into account when paying at an ATM.
- Use your hand to cover the keyboard. : Hidden cameras can be installed to retrieve your code! Also, never use an ATM if you notice someone standing too close to you.
- Remember to periodically check your account balance. If you notice any abnormal activity, notify your bank branch immediately.
- Be alert for anything that looks unusual at the ATM. If it’s slow or freezing, or if it asks for your PIN more than once, there’s a chance it has a skimmer device. Also pay attention to the fraudulent installation of a credit card reader.
Another Form of Scam: Fake Fuel Cards
Earn a gift card. source: spm
Have you ever seen this ad on Facebook and other social networks? Win TotalEnergies gift cards that allow you to benefit from 200 liters of free fuel. When prices keep rising, such an offer is rarely ignored, especially if the concept seems simple: play an online game! On social media, posts about it look professional, accompanied by comments from people claiming to have gotten this generous card.
When you win this voucher, you will have to pay, through your credit card, the paltry sum of €1.95. An Internet user informs our TF1 colleagues that after a long time, he still hasn’t received the promised gift card, but nevertheless he has noticed that his account has been charged (he even ignores the source) .
Therefore, dealer-level scams have become increasingly sophisticated. It is imperative to take precautionary measures to protect yourself and thwart the rules of scammers.
read also This new scam targets Windows and Android phone users – ignoring it can cost you dearly
