West Virginia Attorney Debuts Anti-Skimming Guidelines for Retailers

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has gathered a list outlining how convenience stores and gas stations should protect consumers’ financial information at the pump. The guidelines provide retailers with ways to eliminate skimmers at their locations.

The list garnered approval from the West Virginia Oil & Marketers Association and the NACS, Metro News reports. The guidelines recommend retailers replace factory locks on gasoline pumps with unique locks and keys, put in place a regular inspection process for pumps and record dispenser data frequently.

“In a matter of seconds, someone’s personal financial information can be stolen, so gas stations should be on the lookout for suspicious activity to protect consumers,” said Morrisey.

West Virginia isn’t the only state to give attention to skimming at gas stations. Earlier this summer, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a law that would make it a felony to possess a skimming device. The law goes into effect Oct. 1. Last year, Florida enacted a law that requires retailers to have security measures in place to protect their pumps against skimmers.