Credit card skimmers found at two Chattanooga gas stations

February 3, 2017 at 12:24 p.m. | Updated February 3, 2017 at 12:41 p.m.

by Staff Report

In this Dec. 17, 2015 photo, a New York City Police detective holds a credit card skimmer that was used by a street gang to copy metadata from legitimate credit cards for use in the manufacture of counterfeit cards and possibly identity theft. A new trend is emerging that shows street crews and local gangs giving up more traditional activities like gun point robberies or drug running for more white-collar varieties of crime like identity theft or credit card fraud. (AP Photo/Colleen Long)
In this Dec. 17, 2015 photo, a New York City Police detective holds a credit card skimmer that was used by a street gang to copy metadata from legitimate credit cards for use in the manufacture of counterfeit cards and possibly identity theft. A new trend is emerging that shows street crews and local gangs giving up more traditional activities like gun point robberies or drug running for more white-collar varieties of crime like identity theft or credit card fraud. (AP Photo/Colleen Long)

Chattanooga police said Friday credit card skimmers recently were found at two Mapco stations, at 8604 Hickory Valley Road and at Gadd Road.

The skimmers were found Jan. 25. "Unlike previous advisories these devices are placed inside the pump itself instead of on the outside of the machine," according to a police news release.

Skimmers read and record account information, leaving users vulnerable to identity theft.

Police said there are several ways to protect yourself:

If anti-tampering seal is broken contact store management immediately and don't use the machine

Use debit cards as credit. Since credit option doesn't require a PIN the purchaser has more protection.

Cover the keys while entering your debit/credit password

Monitor your account(s) daily online and report fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately

Ask your financial institution to pair geolocation software with your card. This feature tracks location of both your card and phone.

Make payments inside with cashier.

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