CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Police found high-tech skimmers inside several locked pumps at a 7-Eleven on Cape Coral Parkway.
Someone got around the locks at the gas station on Cape Coral Parkway and Skyline Blvd by installing bluetooth skimmers on four gas pumps. They allow thieves to take your card information from the pump, and they don’t have to get out of their cars to do it.
Master Sergeant Patrick O’Grady said it’s the first time his department reported illegal skimmers since the 2018 law passed requiring all stations to put locks on their pumps.
“Since the ordinance went into place, we haven’t had any cases where skimmers were found,” he said.
The skimmers have been removed, and 7-Eleven owner Chris Gold plans to keep it that way by checking his pumps more often.
“I try to do it every week, but now I’m going to be doing it everyday,” he said.
Police confirm the locks he had were in compliance. On top of checking for skimmers everyday, Gold said he’s installing more secure locks.
O’connor said the skimmers won’t control where he fills up his tank, but it will make him double check his money.
“I’ll have to check my credit card statements more often,” he said. “I just checked my statement this morning, so I know nothing happened yet.>
If you have an android phone, Evan Lutz with Cigent Technology said you can add an extra layer of protection with an app called Skim Plus.
“It looks at all of the bluetooth devices in range of your phone, and if it sees a device address that it thinks might potentially could be a credit card skimmer, then it’ll let you know,” he said.
If you still have doubts, O’Grady recommends paying inside and using cash.
