Auditor moves to prevent credit card thievery at the pump
One of the responsibilities of Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo’s office is to conduct weights and measures inspections. Basically, this is a verification that when consumers make purchases based on quantity or volume that things are on the up and up. So the inspections cover things in his jurisdiction like grocery store scales and gas station pumps. (You’ve likely seen his name on stickers from time-to-time when you fill up.) And now, he’s on a mission when it comes to those gas pumps to make sure that customers aren’t surrendering their personal date to scammers.
In recent weeks, there have been four instances where skimmers were discovered inside the credit card sliders on gas pumps. These are devices that steal customer data when people are trying to pay for their fuel. In each of these cases, the skimmers were found on pumps in the City of Columbus’ jurisdiction, not Mingo’s. But he’s taking the issue seriously just the same.
Mingo has begun inspections on every pump at all 188 gas stations inside of his Franklin County jurisdiction (approx. 3,300 pumps). Where his office is normally checking to make sure that when the pump says that you got a gallon of gas that you actually received a gallon of gas, now they’re looking for credit card fraud. Mingo’s office says that the steps that they’re taking are “to ensure that people are safe from crooks at the gas pump.” (jj)
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