ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- NACS and The Pinnacle Corp. have released a mobile app designed to help convenience-store operators enhance fuel-dispenser security and combat skimming, an aggressive tactic used to illegally obtain consumer-card data for fraudulent purposes.
The SkimDefend app works in tandem with NACS WeCare decals, which help retailers identify potential security breaches when devices are opened to install skimming devices at fuel dispensers or other unattended personal-identification number or PIN-entry devices. Officials describe the decals as “tamper evident,” which refers to damage done to the decal if a would-be data thief opens the pump panel.
With the SkimDefend app, store operators scan the code at each pump location where a NACS WeCare decal is located, or enter label numbers manually. Decal usage may also be considered at other locations such as ATMs, car-wash controllers, network cabinets and personal computers, said officials with Alexandria, Va.-based NACS.
“By teaming up with Pinnacle, NACS is able to help convenience-store operators combat skimming at the dispenser and anywhere else hardware is at potential risk. NACS members, and especially our WeCare decal users, are encouraged to take advantage of this app while it is free, and help us enhance the power of SkimDefend by sharing usage experiences,” said Doug Spencer, director of products and services at NACS.
“Pinnacle is pleased to bring the strength of its mobile platform to the NACS WeCare program by introducing the SkimDefend mobile app, providing retailers a powerful tool to help mitigate the risks of skimming devices,” said Melissa Hadley, director of product management at Arlington, Texas-based Pinnacle. “Our mobile platform enables us to rapidly develop and deploy both consumer-facing and internal [corporate] facing apps for convenience-store operators, and SkimDefend was a natural extension of our strategy. We are excited about the extension possibilities for this app going forward.”
The two main functions of the SkimDefend app are:
- To register NACS WeCare decals, their physical locations and capture their GPS coordinates.
- To verify that NACS WeCare decals have not been tampered with, and if one has, the app allows store operators the ability to record information and take pictures of what they encountered.
The SkimDefend app creates a virtual-tracking mechanism that helps store operators monitor fuel pumps, as well as help provide forensic evidence should a skimming incident occur. The app also helps combat thieves who purchase or produce counterfeit labels by tracking only legitimately purchased decals.
“Conexxus and NACS are constantly seeking ways to bring security to our membership, and SkimDefend is another tool that makes securing our customers’ data a bit easier,” said Gray Taylor, executive director of Conexxus, the Alexandria, Va.-based technology standards and advocacy group. “This is a great example of how we continue to work with all stakeholders to improve our members’ profitability.”
Convenience-store operators can download the SkimDefend app for free for Apple and Android mobile devices, and the NACS WeCare decals can be purchased by clicking here.
Fuel-dispenser security is of great concern for the convenience-store industry. Approximately 39 million Americans fill-up their gas tanks every day, and fuel dispensers have become one of many targets for thieves looking to steal credit- and debit-card information by skimming, said NACS officials.
Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS is the international association for convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience-store industry, with more than 154,000 stores across the country, conducts 160 million transactions a day, sells 80% of the fuel purchased in the country and had total sales of $575 billion in 2015. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,700 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.
The Pinnacle Corp. is a provider of automation technology, focusing on the convenience-store and petroleum industries. Pinnacle delivers products that automate the broad spectrum of convenience-store operations and supply-chain management of fuel operations. Nationwide, Pinnacle’s products and services are used daily in thousands of convenience outlets to automate and improve their store operations and by fuel marketers to increase their efficiency in fuel delivery.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.