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76 credit card skimmers found in Arizona so far in 2019

Posted at 2:44 PM, Aug 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-14 09:21:57-04

Officials are continuing to keep an eye out as more credit card skimmers are found around the Valley and state this year.

As of August 13, officials have discovered 82 skimmers across the state.

The most recent discovery included two skimmers located at a gas station in Gilbert, located near McQueen and Guadalupe roads, on August 8.

Take a look at the map below to see where skimmers were found so far in 2019.

In 2018, the Arizona Department of Agriculture reported a total of 148 credit card skimmers being found across the state. This almost tripled the total number of skimmers found in 2017, which totaled 57.

Now, some scammers are using Bluetooth devices so they can get credit card information wirelessly without having to remove their skimming device at the pump.

But Data Doctors Ken Colburn says there are apps you can use to detect whether Bluetooth is being used at your gas pump.

For iPhones, there's an app called "Card Skimmer Locator" and for Android there's "Skim Plus."

You open these apps and hold your phone near a gas pump to see if it senses Bluetooth technology.

Colburn says they are not 100% effective but that they are worth trying.

Also, to protect yourself at gas stations, try using pumps that are the closest to the store window, where any issues can be better detected by staff.

It is also recommended to never use a debit card since thieves could get directly into a bank account.

In fact, Colburn suggests using a gas card instead of a regular credit card, which would be less desirable to thieves since it could only be used to buy gas.

Agency officials tell us they are now working with gas pump technicians, encouraging them to report skimming devices so they can better track them and look for trends.