Credit card skimmers found at Steamboat gas station
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The Steamboat Springs Police Department is investigating suspected credit card skimming devices discovered in the pumps at the Western Convenience gas station.
Two suspicious devices were discovered at the station, which is located at 500 S. Lincoln Ave. in Steamboat Springs.
Police Commander Annette Dopplick said the devices were found Thursday by state officials from the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety, who were inspecting the pumps.
The officials notified management at the gas station, and management then notified police.
Skimming devices are used by criminals to capture valuable credit card information.
“Depending on the financial institution, the magnetic strip generally contains all the information displayed on the card as well as additional information about the account,” police said in a news release.
The devices can be attached directly over the card readers at gas pumps and ATM machines and can be concealed in a way that make them undetectable.
At Western Convenience, there was no video surveillance of the pumps.
Dopplick said police are unsure how long the devices were in the pump, and they are unsure if the credit card information made its way into the hands of criminals.
“We did encourage other stations to be vigilant and to do a check on their pumps,” Dopplick said.
To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland.
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