Got phished at a gas station pump in Reno last month - that fake 'tap to pay' sticker was almost identical to the real one

I was running late for a delivery in Sparks and slapped my card on what I thought was the contactless reader, but it was a skimmer overlay that grabbed my info and $340 in fraudulent charges later I had to cancel everything and freeze my credit, has anyone else noticed these things getting harder to spot?

2 comments

2 Comments

tylerr391mo ago

honestly I think you guys are way overreacting to this stuff. I mean yeah it sucks when it happens but the banks always refund the money dont they? Ive been tapping my card at random pumps all over Nevada for years without any issues. Most gas stations have cameras and security anyway so these skimmer guys are just asking to get caught. Plus if you actually look at the overlay vs a real reader theyre never truly perfect. The plastic feels different and the logo placement is always slightly off. I get being careful but twisting and pulling on every reader before using it is just paranoid behavior. These companies spend millions on fraud protection and contactless tech is actually more secure than swiping. Yall just need to calm down a little and stop treating every pump like its a trap.

dixon.amy1mo ago

almost identical to the real one" - yeah that's how they get you. My buddy found one at a Walgreens pump that was so accurate he only noticed because the sticker was slightly crooked. Now I always tug on the reader before I tap.