Sarasota Gas Station Card Skimmers: Was Your Info Stolen?

SARASOTA, FL — Have you used the Quik gas station pumps in the last few months on 3580 Fruitville Road, Sarasota? If you have, it's possible your credit or debit card information was stolen by identity thieves.

During a routine inspection of the gas station on Monday, an official from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection discovered skimming devices on the card readers at the pumps. This means criminals could have been stealing the information on cards used at that gas station, possibly for months.

Police said the owner of Quik, which was formerly the Dodge Store, told them he was unaware that the skimmers were on his pumps. The pumps were installed about a year ago, he told police.

The owner also said he hasn't gotten any complaints about the skimmers from customers, according to the police report.

The last time the station was inspected was on April 3, 2017 — so anyone who used the pumps between that date and Nov. 6, when the skimmers were discovered, might have had their information stolen. Officials do not know how long the devices were in place.

If you know or think you used the Quik gas station recently, the Sarasota Police Department advises you to check your bank and credit card statements frequently for any sign of erroneous charges or unusual activity. Get in contact with your bank or credit card company as soon as possible if you believe your information has been stolen. People with information about the case can call the police department at 941-316-1199.

For those concerned about falling victims to card skimmers, police provided the following tips:

• Choose a fuel pump that is close to the entrance of the stores
• Use a credit card for the transaction, not a debit card
• Pay inside and use cash

Photo credit: Google Street View screenshot