It's a practice that's been seen in 12 Ohio counties since last October: the installation of illegal credit card skimmers in gas pumps.
"A skimmer is a little electronic device that is actually put inside a gas pump. Â When you use your credit card, put your credit card in, it will actually read all of that information," said Rhonda Eddy-Stienecker, Allen County Auditor.
In order to combat the widespread use of these skimmers, Weights and Measurements Inspectors from 60 counties are working together to inspect more than 12,000 gas pumps Labor Day weekend in a "Skimmer Sweep".
"Well, we actually have to open the pump, and we're looking inside for an attachment to the card reader that is on the inside of the pump, and that's where we'll find the little devices there," said Jim Offenbaker, Allen County Weights and Measures Inspector.
It only takes these scammers about 30 seconds to install the skimmers, and that 30 seconds could cost you everything that's in your bank account.
"With a debit card they can pull your PIN number and they can go and drain your account quicker than you even know what happened,"Â Eddy-Stienecker said.
No skimmers have been found as of yet in Allen county, but it's still one of the counties participating in the sweep. Â An important thing that consumers can look for is a security seal on the pump, and check that it hasn't been tampered with.
"When it's okay, it just says that it's a security seal, but when it's been tampered with, it will say 'VOID' on it, and at that point in time I would notify the station attendant, whomever is working inside that there's a sticker out there at the gas pump and report whatever number it is," said Offenbaker.
After the Labor Day sweep, routine checks will still carry on throughout the state.
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