Kennewick police find card skimmers inside gas pumps
KENNEWICK, Wash. - Police are asking drivers who pump gas in Kennewick to check their bank account for suspicious activity as credit card skimmers have been spotted at some local gas stations.
The Kennewick Police Department (KPD) recently received multiple reports from people saying their debit card was compromised and money was drained from their bank account.
Investigators found skimmers inside multiple area gas station pumps that take sensitive information from those who make purchases.
Police caution that skimmers have evolved and are installed inside pumps, making it impossible for consumers to know if a skimmer is in the gas pump.
The skimmers are not only capable of grabbing information on the magnetic strip, but also obtaining the PIN number used for debit cards.
KPD officials ask that anyone who uses their debit card at a gas pump to avoid entering their PIN number. Instead, they recommend identifying the card as a credit card and entering the zip code.
They are also recommending that consumers check their bank accounts to check for unauthorized purchases.
