Card skimmers found at same Charlotte gas station 4 times in month

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By Liz Foster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Despite red tape to show tampering at pumps at a gas station on South Tryon Street in southwest Charlotte, police are investigating the use of card skimmers at pumps at least four times in the last month.

Kawana McKenzie is a victim who said she didn't know her debit card had been compromised until she went to pay bills Monday morning.

"It's awful because you look in your account to pay bills and there's no money," McKenzie said.

More than $1,000 was gone from her account.

McKenzie showed Channel 9 her checking account, which showed her gas purchase for $36 on Friday, and then where she said someone used her card information after duplicating it with a skimming device.

"Within 24 hours, all of my money is gone out of my account," McKenzie said.

McKenzie said this was the second time it happened in the past month, and both times, it happened after she had filled up her car at the same gas station on South Tryon Street at the Exxon/7-Eleven near Interstate 485.

After the first time, she froze the account and got a new card.

She said she did not report it to police because she did not know where her account had been compromised.

[CLICK HERE for more information on spotting skimming devices]

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police reports said that a man servicing one of the pumps found a skimming device on May 8.

Four days later, someone found two more on two different gas pumps. Then, on May 19, another skimming device was found.

In January, Channel 9 reported two card skimmers were found at the same gas station.

McKenzie doesn't know if she will get her money back.

[CLICK HERE for information about skimming devices from the FBI]

"If you don't see the sticker, the police said, do not use the gas station with your credit cards because criminals can pop them in and out easily if they know they're not being checked often," she said.

Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster asked a manager how often employees check the red tape at each pump. He said they check it every day when replacing trash bags.

McKenzie is hoping surveillance cameras at the gas station and at the stores where her card information was used will lead police to the thief who is stealing credit and debit card information.

Typically, criminals put a device over the card slot to steal the information from your card. They also position a camera so it can capture your PIN. So here's how to protect yourself:

Click here to view the video on Youtube

  1. Inspect the card slot. Even grab it and shake it a little. Be suspicious is it's crooked or loose.
  2. When you type your PIN, shield the screen with your other hand, so a camera can't see.
  3. Be especially cautious in tourist areas.
  4. Avoid outside ATMs when possible.
  5. Always keep an eye on your accounts.

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