PALATKA, Fla. – If you’re planning to travel out of state this Christmas or New Year to visit family, be cautious when using your credit or debit card to pay for gas.
A fresh warning about gas station skimmers comes after a Jacksonville man was linked to a skimming scheme in Oklahoma City.
Alberto Bastida Ruiz, 29, from Jacksonville, was arrested Tuesday in Palatka during a traffic stop. A background check revealed an outstanding warrant from Oklahoma City.
The warrant accuses Bastida Ruiz of installing skimming devices at multiple gas stations in Oklahoma City. Investigators say he used these devices to make numerous fraudulent purchases across the country, including in Jacksonville.
Last year, Bastida Ruiz was convicted of four counts of financial fraud in Jacksonville. According to a 19-page arrest affidavit, he used stolen bank and credit card information to buy large quantities of gasoline from gas stations in Jacksonville.
Bastida Ruiz was sentenced to a year in Duval County jail but was released early. After his release, an arrest warrant was issued from Oklahoma City. Oklahoma investigators say the stolen card information used in Jacksonville and other areas came from skimmers placed on gas pumps in Oklahoma City.
Skimmers are devices that steal credit and bank card information when an unsuspecting person swipes their card at the pump.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney says Bastida Ruiz’s arrest highlights the importance of being vigilant when using cards at gas pumps, especially if the card reader seems loose.
Hackney advises, “Tug on the reader. It should be firm, not loose. And it’s not just gas pumps—sometimes convenience stores have overlays on their card machines. Tug on those too.”
Gas station employees are responsible for inspecting pumps for skimmers. If no skimmers are found, they’ll place a safety tag on the pump to assure customers that the card reader is secure.
“If you don’t see that tag, you should be suspicious. Either move to another pump or another store,” Hackney said.
Mastercard reports that skimming devices caused over 416,000 cases of identity theft across the U.S. last year.
The U.S. Secret Service adds that skimming has resulted in losses exceeding $115 million in recent years.
“Every victim not only faces inconvenience, but their credit is put at risk,” Hackney said. “Dealing with that can be overwhelming. All you’re trying to do is buy gas, and you end up being victimized without even realizing it.”
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