BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman announced the launch of a new statewide crackdown on the threat of credit-card skimmers hidden in pumps at gas stations.
Rothman made the announcement at Bobby & Steve’s Auto World in Bloomington, Minn., where alert employees recently caught three men who were trying to install a skimmer in a gas pump.
The Commerce Department’s Weights & Measures and Enforcement divisions will be conducting Minnesota’s first-ever inspection sweep of gas stations across the state to protect consumers against skimmers. The department is also starting an outreach and education campaign with gas station operators to help protect their customers.
“The Commerce Department is determined to prevent and halt this emerging threat to Minnesota consumers,” said Rothman. “We are taking steps to make sure pumps are secure and customers’ credit- and debit-card information is safe from criminals.”
Earlier this year, skimmers were found in pumps at two stations in Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, and three men were arrested at the Bobby & Steve’s station in Bloomington after being caught trying to install a skimmer.
Rothman said that, beginning this week, Commerce Department inspectors and investigators will be examining gas pumps statewide for skimmers.
In addition to checking retail gas pumps for accuracy, safety and fuel quality, the agency’s Weights & Measures inspectors will now also look for card skimmers and any signs of tampering at pumps as part of their inspection protocol.
Rothman said that, if a skimmer is found, the Commerce Fraud Bureau will pursue a criminal investigation in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.
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