How to avoid getting skimmed when you’re filling your car with gas

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In our ongoing efforts to educate and inform, our partners at Patriot Capital have asked us to share the following article written by Fredrick Kunkle that appeared in the Washington Post on June 16, 2017. Read the original article here.

 

When you’re filling your car at the gas pump this summer, you could be also be giving a thief access to your bank account or credit card.

Gas stations are a chief target of criminals who use data-grabbing skimmers to siphon data from drivers’ credit and ATM cards, according to law enforcement officials and gas retailers. Almost daily, the secretive and illegal devices are discovered at gas stations across the country, such as here, here and here. Earlier this month, Fairfax County police reported finding 21 skimmers at 15 different locations in the past year.

Skimmers work like legitimate banking card readers, but they are secretly installed in or on the pumps by criminals to steal people’s financial data. Gas stations are particularly vulnerable, but banks and other businesses have also been hit.

“The people who are doing skimming — it’s amazing, some of the things they do,” said Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president for government relations at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

Gas stations are targeted because of their physical layout and the volume of their business. Thieves find it relatively easy to use gas station islands as cover while they tamper with the machines, Beckwith said. The devices are placed either inside the pumps by thieves who jimmy them open or outside the pumps using overlays on the pump’s card reader. Usually, thieves put one skimmer in a single gas station, but that one device can capture a lot of card data.

NACS, which represents more than 2,100 retailers, says nearly 80 percent of the fuel in the United States is retailed through them. Although only a small fraction of those fill-ups get skimmed, a small fraction of 29 million daily fuel customers can mean a lot. A single skimmer can collect data from 30 to 100 cards a day, NACS says.

NACS

The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) says special sealing tape can help consumers and gas station operators spot pumps that have been tampered with. (Screen grab from NACS video; courtesy of NACS)

NACS

The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) says special sealing tape can help consumers and gas station operators spot pumps that have been tampered with. (Screen grab from NACS video; courtesy of NACS)

To counter them, retailers have been sealing the pumps with special tape. If you see that the seal is broken, you should not use the machine and should alert the operator, he said.

Retailers think the problem will diminish once consumers and retailers fully adopt chip technology, according to Rob Underwood, president of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America.

“As of now, there is a wait time for retailers to have access to the new equipment, which costs around $20,000 per pump,” Underwood said in an email. He said consumers and retailers will still remain vulnerable to fraud until credit card companies allow retailers to require consumers to use PINs on transactions.

NACS has produced a video for its retailers that’s also helpful for consumers, which you can view here:

Here are some tips from law enforcement officials and retailers to protect you at the pump:

  • Use cards with PIN numbers

You’re better off using a card with a PIN if you buy gas, according to NACS and PMAA. NACS, citing a 2013 Federal Reserve study, says you’re four times more likely to be ripped off if your transaction is made without a PIN.

“Signature-based transactions are processed on the antiquated Visa and MasterCard systems that do not process in real-time, versus the instant operation of PIN debit. Not using PIN also increases the cost of the transactions, which is passed back to the consumer,” NACS says. It also says that even old dispensers have technology to encrypt PIN numbers, and that gas pumps have been equipped with them since the early 1990s. “PINs provide a higher level of security. That is why banks require them for transactions at ATMs,” it says.

However, it should be noted that Fairfax County police say that if you’re ripped off via a credit card, you have more protection as a consumer than if the thieves do somehow get your PIN and access to your bank account.

“When the money comes out of that bank account, it’s a lot more difficult to get reimbursed,” Fairfax County Police Officer Tawny Wright said.

That said, the retailers — who bear the cost for fraud — still say they think customers are better off using the PIN.

  • Avoid older gas pumps if you can

These pumps are easier to break into and tamper with. Newer pumps have technology to prevent being ripped off.

  • Check to see whether the pump has been tampered with

Thieves install internal devices by opening the pumps and putting them inside. But gas stations have fought back by using serial-numbered security tape that track the reasons why the dispenser door was opened. If the tape is cut, damaged or broken, it should “bleed” to alert people that it’s been tampered with, NACS says.

For external skimmers, which are installed over an existing keypad, look to see if the keypad is raised. You can do this by running your fingernail along the edge, NACS says. The skimmer may also be loose or wiggle when  you touch it.

Police said newer Bluetooth skimmers are particularly tricky to detect because they can be hidden entirely inside the pumps.

  • There’s an app for that

Retailers can use the SkimDefend app, along with special NACS tamper-alert decals, to track attempts to mess with the pumps.

  • What should you do if you suspect a pump has been tampered with? 

Customers should alert the gas station operator, who should shut the pump down immediately and have it inspected by a technician.

NACS also advises that no one, including the technician, should touch or remove the device. Let the police handle it. In large cases, the FBI and Secret Service sometimes get involved, NACS says.

  • Check your banking and credit card statements frequently for suspicious charges 

If you see anything out of order, call your bank or credit company to report it right away.

If you are a petroleum retailer unsure as to whether now is the time to upgrade your equipment with EMV technology, have questions about equipment and/or financing, we invite you to contact us at 1.800.451.4021 and along with our partners at Patriot Capital, we can explore your equipment and financing options to ensure your location(s) have the latest and greatest data security and your customers’ bank accounts and credit cards are safe from such data skimming technology and practices.

We appreciate your continued business and support!

More On EMV From Our Friends At Petroleum Processing Solutions

Petroleum Processing Solutions logoWith all merchants who accept credit cards facing the impending shift to the EMV standards, our partners at Petroleum Processing Solutions will be providing us with some helpful information to guide you through the EMV mine field of equipment, processing standards and requirements all will face in the next few years.

About EMVCo

EMV Chip CardEMVCo is a worldwide group comprised of six member organizations (American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, UnionPay, and Visa) and supported by numerous banks, vendors, and other industry stakeholders who act as associates.  Among these associates, EMVCo is managed by a Board of Managers and an Executive Committee, as well as various Working Groups.  Their goal is to facilitate the most secure payment transactions possible through utilizing and evolving the EMV Specifications through processes such as card and terminal evaluation, security evaluation, and management of interoperability issues.

8 FAQs About EMV Cards

PPS EMV article 1Since the shift began towards EMV began here in America a year and a half ago, vendors and industry professionals have had to implement a great deal of new technology and processes into their businesses.  Because it is an ongoing process, many questions are often asked about EMV, including what makes them more secure than traditional cards, how they are used, if “card-dipping” is the only way to use them, whether or not they will require a PIN, who will be liable for costs in the event of fraud, whether or not the shift EMV is complete, if an EMV card will work at a retailer not yet supporting the technology, and if an EMV card can be used while traveling outside the country.

Living with EMV

PPS EMV article 2Introducing EMV technology has come with its fair share of challenges and difficulties.  According to industry professionals, certain trends have been established, and from these trends, the course of the payment industry can be speculated going forward.  Among these findings are that most customers have chip cards in their possession, and that more stores will be accepting them in 2017.  As well, chip cards have been found to reduce counterfeit fraud and protect the card’s magnetic stripe (while they remain), and thanks to using data from the previous year and a half to improve the technology, transactions using the chip are now much faster and easier.  In addition, the loud beeping noises from EMV terminals are not likely to be necessary anymore.  Also, while ATM card skimming fraud saw a rise in activity during 2016, upgraded ATMs compatible with EMV technology should deter further card skimming.

Understanding Liability Shift

As EMV becomes the standard in payment processing technology, having the technology capable of accepting chip cards will no longer be an option for merchants.  As of now, magnetic stripes are still accepted as the transition continues, but businesses that do not support the more secure EMV transactions could pay a heavy cost in the event of fraudulent transactions.  As of October 1, 2015, a global POS counterfeit fraud liability shift went into effect in the United States, which holds that merchants that are not EMV certified are liable for any fraud resulting from a transaction with a customer in possession of a chip-enabled card.

If you would like to learn more about EMV and/or Petroleum Processing Solutions, contact us at (800) 451-4021.

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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Patriot Industry News – How Will Trump’s Tax Cuts Impact You?

This blog post was reproduced from a Patriot Capital newsletter

Does Trump’s Tax Plan Mean Higher Costs for C-Stores?

President Trump has announced one of the largest tax cuts in history. The changes will impact most Patriot Capital newsletter image 1American businesses, including convenience stores.

The planned reduction of taxes proposed for “for corporations, small businesses and partnerships of all sizes” is the headline story. At the same time, the maximum personal income tax rate is proposed to be 35 percent and the number of personal tax rates would drop from seven tiers to three (35 percent, 25 percent, 10 percent).

Considerations for your business include:

  • lower tax rates mean higher after tax costs for equipment due to lower depreciation
  • if the Border Adjustment Tax comes into effect, higher prices for imported components and equipment
  • uncertainty around the fate of Section 179
  • acceleration of interest rate increase

For more on how the new tax proposal could affect your business, read the entire article here.

Three Factors to Consider When Purchasing Convenience Store Equipment

Chris Santy, President of Patriot Capital, shares some key points that need to be considered when deciding whether to invest in equipment upgrades in this article.

When making any investment decision, the first consideration always should be the return on your investment (ROI), Santy’s article discusses three important ROI concerns to consider:

  • What is the cost of the equipment or investment?
  • What will the equipment earn?
  • What could happen to make the return on investment different than expected?

Patriot Capital offers a variety of equipment financing options for C-stores, fuel marketers and jobbers. To get a quick quote, or find an advisor near you, visit the Patriot Capital website or call (877) 527-0383.

NACS Survey Reveals What Fuel Prices Would Trigger Driving Changes

Fuel customers will change their driving habits to decrease their fuel consumption once gas prices reach Patriot Capital newsletter image 2$3.37 per gallon, according to a new NACS Consumer Fuels Survey. The price would have to hit $4.43 before consumers will drastically decrease their driving.

The price of gas also affects how consumers think about broader economic issues. Other issues the survey explored include expectations on future fuel prices, generational differences in consumer attitudes, and consumer perceptions on the reasons for fuel price increases – the good news is they don’t tend to blame the fuel retailer.

Visit the NACS Fuel Resources Center to review a variety of 2017 C-store consumer opinion surveys.

Dirty Pumps, Restrooms Cited Among ‘Four Sins of Fuel Retail’

Filthy gas pumps, malfunctioning card readers, unwelcoming stores, and dirty restrooms are cited as the Patriot Capital newsletter image 3top “Four Sins of Fuel Retail” in a recent editorial by industry strategist Norman Turiano.

Cleanliness at the pumps tops the list. Turiano points out that female consumers are especially reluctant to touch a visibly dirty pump, and this can drive away business.

Dirty restrooms make customers question overall cleanliness, and particularly. wonder about the healthiness of on-site prepared food. Does your site have the right focus on the ‘Four Sins’?

Read the entire article in CSP Daily.

Consumer Optimism Remains High Despite Fuel Price Increases

Consumer optimism is at an all-time high despite rising gas prices, according to a NACS National Patriot Capital newsletter image 4Consumer Fuel Survey.  NACS reports that 61 percent of consumers feel optimistic about the economy, the highest number in the 4-year history of the monthly survey.

Drivers remain optimistic despite the fact that a majority of gasoline consumers expect prices to increase in the next month. Slightly more than half of all Americans report they expect prices to be “much higher” or “somewhat higher”, while only 9 percent expect prices to drop.

Traditionally, rising prices result in decreased consumer optimist. Four years ago, when 85 percent of Americans said that gas prices had increased, 41 percent were optimistic. However, gas prices were more than $1 per gallon higher in 2013 than they are today.

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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Opinion: EMV At The Pump: Should You Wait Until 2020?

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The following article was written by Richard Browne of Patriot Capital for www.cspdailynews.com.  Read the original article here.

ATLANTA — There was a collective sigh of relief on Dec. 1, when Visa, followed quickly by MasterCard, announced a shift in the forecourt gas-pump liability date from 2017 to 2020. I believe there also was a smile in some boardrooms, as retailers that already have invested see an opportunity to capture gallons and inside sales.

Industry reports suggest that about 33% of dispensers in the market are capable of processing payments to Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) data-security standards with either a software or small hardware upgrade. This represents dispensers installed since 2011, when both Wayne and Gilbarco started shipping “EMV-ready” dispensers. Both manufacturers are reportedly close to or have released the required software to enable EMV, and there’s high probability that many networks will be processing EMV from pumps by mid- to late 2017.

So what?

Consumers are quickly becoming used to using a chip card. They are aware of the reason for it: increased security. Crooks are aware of EMV, and can quickly identify fuel dispensers that have—or don’t have—EMV payment enabled.

I believe we’ll see two things happen:

  • Consumers will shift their buying behavior to EMV-enabled gas pumps, starting in 2017. A high percentage of your customers have had one of their cards breached in the past and want the most secure transaction possible. In Europe and Canada, which have completed their implementation, retailers saw gallons shift to “secure” EMV sites from those that hadn’t yet been upgraded. Switching costs are low in our industry; it’s very easy for a customer to drive another block for a safer experience.
  • Criminals will have a shrinking number of sites to target. About 10% of dispensers are replaced each year. This suggests that, with no acceleration in upgrades, more than 50% of dispensers will be EMV-enabled in 2018, and 70% in 2020. The crooks have got to eat, and they will have half the sites to target that they had in 2015. Combine this with EMV implemented at restaurants and retail, and the potential places to commit card fraud becomes a small target.

Gray Taylor, executive director of Conexxus, said that Visa and MasterCard’s delay announcements appear to not clearly delay liability for retailers who experience higher fraud rates or those accepting foreign-issued cards. “We don’t see this announcement as a true game delay, but a bit of breathing room,” he said.

It is important to review your fraud liability with your processor, and understand Visa and MasterCard’s plans and how increased fraud may affect you.

It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see the liability upgrade deadline move again. With the installed EMV base naturally approaching 80% or more dispensers, the arguments that caused the date to move have less sway, and all other U.S. payments markets will have been EMV-enabled for five years.

Waiting will get more expensive. It’s generally anticipated that the new administration’s economic plans will result in higher inflation and interest rates. Combine this with promised lower tax rates, which effectively reduce the benefits of capital depreciation and makes equipment more expensive on a net-cost basis, and increases in labor costs, and waiting will be expensive. For multisite operators, the change in bonus depreciation from 50% today to 30% in 2019 and 0% in 2020 can have a significant cash-flow impact.

Competitors that have upgraded to new pumps will have enhanced marketing capabilities that the newest pumps provide. Video screens and contactless payment provide marketing options that can increase adoption of customer-loyalty programs and drive more traffic into your store.

The bottom line: Delaying pump EMV upgrades means potential market-share loss and higher fraud risk for your site. Consumers—and crooks—will know who’s made the move.

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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Drive Home 2016 With Two Great Encore Financing Options

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Get ready for EMV and enhance your experience!  Patriot Capital has two great financing alternatives from Gilbarco they’d like you to know about before the next price increase:

Gilbarco Bundle $2000 Financing Rebate.
Gilbarco has launched their Fall bundle promotion, providing bundle savings of up to $13,500 per site.  Customers who utilize the Passport / Encore 700 4 crate bundle and who finance with Patriot will receive a $2,000 rebate check after final funding.

Don’t Make a Payment Until 2017
Order the Encore 700 S to be eligible for no payments until January 2017 on the dispensers and related installation costs.  If you are financing with Patriot, order now to, other than a one month security deposit, make no additional payments until 2017.

Taking advantage of these promotions provides you with many benefits, including:

  • an enhanced customer experience at the pump and the opportunity to grow your station’s sales with Applause TV
  • being EMV ready on the forecourt
  • purchasing ahead of future price increases
  • capturing Section 179 tax benefits to create cash flow advantages* (tax disclaimer at bottom)

* Please consult your tax advisor for advice regarding your particular situation.  Patriot Capital does not provide tax advice.

You can view the official bulletin from Patriot Capital here.

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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Opinion: How Section 179 Can Help Your Cash Flow

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your continued business and support!

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Opinion: Top Questions to Ask as You Move on EMV

The following article originally appeared in the
May edition of http://www.cspdailynews.com written by:
Kara Gunderson,
POS Manager, CITGO Petroleum
CITGO Petroleum Co.
kgunder@citgo.com

 

emv-chip

EMV implementation can be an expensive and frustrating endeavor for any retailer. From upgraded equipment to software and technology, there’s a lot to navigate within the established, looming deadlines. For example, in October 2015, the liability for fraudulent transactions from inside the store shifted from MasterCard/Visa to the retail location. That means processing a chip card inside your store without upgraded equipment could make you liable for any fraudulent chip-card transactions.

If that’s not enough to make you take action, the same liability shift takes place outside at the fuel dispensers Oct. 1, 2017. By that date, gasoline retailers will need to retrofit or replace pumps to accept EMV or shoulder the burden of any fraudulent charges related to a chip card.

Make a Plan

Unfortunately, fraud could cost you thousands of dollars if you do not upgrade your equipment. For those investing in EMV implementation, here are some important questions to ask:

1. How can you lessen the financial effect of EMV? Many retailers have taken a big-picture approach to EMV, and that’s a good thing. Instead of seeing EMV in a vacuum, they look at upgrades that may add incremental income to offset up-front costs, including:

  • Moving from dial-up (analog and serial connections) into the Internet and digital age
  • Evaluating and replacing pumps with those that handle chip cards and have video display screens
  • Upgrading the forecourt with brighter, more energy-efficient lighting.

2. Have you prioritized your sites? With liability the No. 1 concern, you should prioritize high-traffic sites and locations in high-crime neighborhoods. Creating this hierarchy may soften the economic effect and help you better execute the changeover.

3. Do you have enough bandwidth? The amount of data required to flow back and forth to authorize a magnetic-stripe card is minuscule compared to what’s needed with a chip card. With a mag stripe, only the host processor is involved. With EMV, it’s the card, the terminal and the host. With a mag stripe, it’s static data, and with the chip, a cryptogram is involved. High-speed connectivity via broadband is a must. And don’t forget a backup plan, such as cellular or a secondary carrier. Also, include your dealers if that’s part of your business.

Prioritize high-traffic sites and locations in high-crime neighborhoods.

4. What do your site plans look like? Things to consider include number of POS devices and dispensers at each site, wiring needs and whether you’re installing new video screens and running ads to generate income. Work with your distributors to establish individual site upgrade plans so you know what to upgrade and where.

5. What are your financing plans? New financing structures, partners and bankers can help retailers overcome the costs associated with EMV. Consulting with your jobbers or oil-company representatives could lead to brokered plans or trusted lenders.

6. Have you thought about mobile payment? EMV devices are not always equipped with near-field communications (NFC). (Think “tap and pay.”) Adding NFC readers can allow you to potentially accept mobile payments, a real benefit as customers begin to expect this option.

7. Have you reviewed store-level training and procedures for EMV? Prepare your cashiers to educate customers so they know what to expect. This may keep people from leaving their cards behind both inside and outside at the dispensers, but you should initiate a procedure for that too. A great resource for merchant and cashier training is gochipcard.com.

8. Have you planned far enough ahead? Due to the late EMV specification releases, many providers are still getting their devices certified, which is hindering the rollout process. Stay in touch with key suppliers and build those logistics into your execution plans. Also, the longer you wait, the fewer technicians will be available. Only a finite number of trained technicians exist to handle what will undoubtedly be a rush to install EMV leading up to the liability-shift date. Also, you don’t want to be the last one to upgrade in your neighborhood—by then, most of the counterfeit liability will have already shifted to your location.

In the end, your decision to move forward with EMV will mean little if you stumble in your execution. Review your options, decide on a plan and move relentlessly toward 2017.

If you would like to learn more about EMV and financing options with Patriot Capital, feel free to contact us at 1.800.451.4021.

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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