“State inspectors find credit card skimmers at two Kent County gas stations“, “State finds 103 credit-card skimmers in 3-month inspection of gas 
pumps” and “Authorities warn about gas pump ‘skimmers’ in time for summer travel season” are just a few headlines recently that have been reported on.
So why are station owners still not using security seals? Do they really want their name synonymous with credit fraud? Or do they think that the public is ignorant to the fact that this is a growing problem; especially with gas stations?
Let’s put an end to the idea that consumers are in the dark about the tampering of gas pumps. Below is one of the most recent consumer complaints that we have received here at Southeast Petro concerning one of our independent Sunoco locations:
“The customer is upset that there are no security seals on the dispensers at this location. According to the caller, she went inside to ask if they had them available and the owner allegedly said, ‘Oh no, we don’t worry about that, you can just pay inside.’ The caller says that she recently had a card skimmed and his lack of caring has convinced her to go elsewhere from now on.”
And don’t deceive yourselves to think that consumers aren’t spreading the word. Social Media is a medium that is blasting stations for not acting to protect their customers. 
As you can see in the image to the left, the customer perceptions are laid out in front of you. Everything from listing the place where the skimmers were found to suspecting the station owners themselves, this is a real and serious threat to the livelihood of your business.
With the overabundance of variety that consumers have in choosing a gas station to stop at, if yours is one of the “That station is sketchy and doesn’t have security labels” thoughts going through people’s heads, then you might as well close up shop now.
The point is, taking the time to protect your consumers is just one more thing you can do to boost customer perception. It may even be beneficial knowing that this is such a concern to announce how proficient you are in inspecting pumps regularly to ensure their financial safety. Consumers will notice, and you will make an impression that they will remember. You cannot afford not to.
If you’d like to know more about where to purchase security seals, what to do if you have found a skimming device and more, check out our Skimming and Fraud Preventative Practices Page. This will prove you with the resources you need to deter criminals and secure your pumps.
