Costco Gas Pumps Make It Easier To Avoid Card Skimmers – Here’s How

A Membership Perk You Didn’t Know You Had

Picture this: You’re going about your normal day—grabbing cash from an ATM, filling up your tank, running errands. Then, a few days later, your phone rings. The caller claims to be from your bank, asking about recent purchases of multiple Apple products, including a MacBook Pro 14. The unsettling truth? You never made those purchases. You’ve just become another victim of card skimming.

This insidious scam can strike anywhere you find ATMs or point-of-sale terminals, but gas pumps remain a particularly vulnerable target. However, there’s one place where you’re almost guaranteed not to encounter a card skimmer: Costco gas stations. That’s right—your membership comes with more benefits than you realized.

The Costco Advantage: Constant Vigilance

The secret behind Costco’s success in avoiding card skimmers is surprisingly straightforward. The company employs dedicated fuel attendants who provide around-the-clock service, never straying far from their assigned pumps. These attendants serve dual purposes: they assist customers and perform daily checks on all equipment.

This constant human presence means Costco pumps have eyes on them almost continuously. Many Costco stations supplement this with CCTV cameras for additional security. These measures significantly reduce opportunities for scammers to install card skimming equipment—after all, you can’t discreetly install a skimmer when someone is watching.

Costco also frequently uses tamper-proof seals on their pumps, making it nearly impossible to install skimming devices without detection. However, it’s worth noting that no system is completely foolproof. According to Protergo Cybersecurity, scammers have managed to install skimmers on Costco pumps at least once, compromising customer information.

How Card Skimmers Work

Card skimmers operate as a devastating one-two punch. These devices scan your card’s magnetic strip while simultaneously logging the information you enter using the keypad—functioning much like a keylogger virus on a computer. The skimmer then transmits this stolen data to its owner, providing everything needed to impersonate you and use your credit or debit cards.

The FBI estimates that skimmers cause over $1 billion in damages annually, making them a significant threat to consumers nationwide.

What makes skimmers particularly dangerous is their near-invisibility. Scammers install scanners either inside or over card readers and place either pinhole cameras or keypad overlays to capture PIN entries. Sometimes, skimmer devices are installed internally within the machines. Unless you’re extraordinarily lucky—or filling up at Costco—most people never realize a terminal contains a skimmer until it’s too late.

When Costco staff discovered a skimmer during a “routine inspection of its PIN pads,” the company took the unusual step of notifying all affected customers. Victims received a year of free credit monitoring, identity theft recovery services, and a $1 million insurance reimbursement policy. And you thought a recent increase in cashback perks was a compelling reason to use Costco’s pumps more often.

You Can Still Avoid Card Skimmers Without Filling Up at Costco

The FBI offers several practical strategies to avoid becoming a skimmer scam victim when using gas stations outside of Costco:

Choose pumps strategically. Always select a pump as close to the store and/or attendant as possible, as these are the most closely monitored. Scammers are less likely to target devices under constant observation.

Pay inside whenever possible. You can’t compromise a cash register with a skimmer, making in-store payment the safest option.

Inspect terminals carefully. If an ATM or payment terminal looks damaged or has loose parts, don’t use it.

Embrace contactless payment. The FBI recommends using tap-to-pay technology whenever available, as these methods are harder to hack.

For ATMs specifically, there are additional warning signs to watch for:

Examine the keypad. Look for unusual colors, shapes, or textures. If you tug at the edges and they come off easily, you’ve likely uncovered an overlay.

Shield your PIN entry. Even if no overlay is visible, always cover the keypad when entering your PIN—just like you did during school tests. This prevents cameras from capturing your input.

Use the “wiggle-jiggle method.” When in doubt, give the card reader a firm wiggle. If it feels loose or moves unexpectedly, you’ve probably discovered a skimmer.

By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to card skimmers—even when you’re not filling up at Costco.

Costco membership benefits
Gas station security
Card skimmer prevention
Skimmer scam protection
Costco fuel advantages
ATM security tips
Contactless payment safety
Gas pump fraud prevention
Skimmer detection methods
Costco pump attendants
Card skimming statistics
Financial security measures
Credit card fraud protection
Identity theft prevention
Gas station safety tips
Skimmer warning signs
Costco gas station security
Payment terminal safety
Skimmer scam victims
Gas pump fraud statistics

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