WILDWOOD, Fla. – A skimming device was discovered at a Wildwood gas station after an alert employee spotted it and notified law enforcement, according to police.
The device was found last week at a 7-Eleven on the 4000 block of East County Road 462. Wildwood police released a photo of the device, which had been attached to one of the pumps.
Motorists filling up at the station said they were alarmed by the discovery.
“That’s scary. This is a brand-new station. You wouldn’t expect that somewhere new,” said driver Kimberly Buford. “I usually don’t check, but I guess I will now.”
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Buford added that the potential financial impact of card skimming is what worries her most.
“They could wipe you out in a matter of minutes and there’s nothing you can do about it,” she said.
Another driver, Eugene Watkins, said he routinely checks pumps for tampering before swiping his card.
“I pull it to make sure it doesn’t come off. That’s the easiest way for me. If it’s loose, don’t use it,” Watkins said.
Police said the skimmer was detected when the employee inspected the pumps during a routine check. Officers urged consumers to remain vigilant and consider using alternative payment options, such as mobile tap-to-pay or cash inside the store, to reduce the risk of fraud.