Motorists on the verge of paying at gas pumps before the holidays of July 4 The secret service says: Could I be scammed?

The agency announced an effort targeting "skimmers" hidden in gas pumps to steal financial information – and finances – from unsuspecting motorists. This week, prior to Independence Day, officers inspect pumps in 21 states.

"Secret Service Leads Charge to Protect US Consumer from" Criminals are small electronic devices secretly installed in pumps and capable of capturing a break-in, "said the agency Tuesday in a statement , citing a Memorial Day effort last month that has helped recover more than 70.

protected card data, said the agency.Commercial keys purchased in line allow fraudsters to access the pumps often left unattended, according to a report from ABC News [19659037] The thieves then return to retrieve the devices or transmit them remotely via Bluetooth, before using the information for shopping, Matthew O Neil, a representative of the agency, told the network:

Fuel pumps have become a popular target for skimming because it is relativ It's easy to hide and recover devices, says the Secret Service.

The agency's warning comes as Americans prepare for the biggest travel period of July 4, as AAA expects 45 million Americans to make the trip for 50 miles or more. (And with gas that has peaked for four years, they will pay at the pump, fraud or not.)

To avoid fraud, the best advice boils down to this: Paying Inside. If that's not an option, agent John Saenz of the Mcallen Police Department in Texas offered advice to KGBT-TV.

"Shake the card reader: if there are any signs of forgery, report it obviously to the operator who is there," he told the station. Follow Josh Hafner on Twitter: @joshhafner

For more information: Fourth of July Holiday Prize Hit 4 Year High [19659008]

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