As I — and others — found out firsthand, swiping your card at the gas pump is a huge no-no.
Like an ATM, they can be hacked with skimmers. External, or overlay, skimmers fit over the card reader and steal your data and PIN. Internal skimmers can be ultra thin skimmers that fit inside the card reader, or simple cables that run between the card reader and main board and record card data (wiretapping).
"A consumer may likely have no indication that they used an altered dispenser until they find a discrepancy on their bank statements," Frank Frassetto, division administrator of Trade and Consumer protection, told ConsumerAffairs.
Use your credit card instead, but cash is even better. If you must pay with a debit card, always run it as credit and never enter your PIN.