ASHLAND – The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating three credit card skimming devices found on gas pumps in Ashland County.

Credit card skimmers are portable devices that are attached to the front of a legitimate credit card scanner. The skimmer can read customers’ credit card information and stores it for thieves to gather later.

The three devices were discovered by an employee of the Ashland County Auditor’s Office during pump inspections.

One of the devices was found at Easy Trip gas station on U.S. 250, just east of Interstate 71. A second one was discovered at the Circle K at 1207 Claremont Ave., and the third one was located at the Circle K at 411 E. Main St.

According to authorities, the devices may have been in place for several months. The skimmers were located inside the panel and were not visible to customers. The devices have a limited range of approximately 500 feet and are accessed remotely.

The Federal Trade Commission offers the following tips to avoid credit card skimmers.

  • Make sure the gas pump panel is closed and doesn’t show signs of tampering. Many stations now put security seals over the cabinet panel. This is part of a voluntary program by the industry to thwart gas pump tampering. If the pump panel is opened, the label will read “void,” which means the machine has been tampered with.
  • Take a good look at the card reader itself. Does it look different than other readers at the station? You can try to wiggle the card reader before you put in your card. If it moves, report it to the attendant. Then use a different pump.
  • If you use a debit card at the pump, run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN. That way, the PIN is safe and the money isn’t deducted immediately from your account. If that’s not an option, cover your hand when entering your PIN. Scammers sometimes use tiny pinhole cameras, situated above the keypad area, to record PIN entries.
  • Monitor your credit card and bank accounts regularly to spot unauthorized charges.
  • If you’re really concerned about skimmers, you can pay inside rather than at the pump. Another option is to use a gas pump near the front of the store. Thieves may target gas pumps that are harder for the attendant to see.

If your credit card has been compromised, report it to your bank or card issuer. Federal law limits your liability if your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, but your liability may depend on how quickly you report the loss or theft

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Lt . Scott Smart of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office at 419-289-8362.