Were You Hacked? Skimming Device Found on Hudson Valley Gas Pump

A device that reads credit cards and pin numbers was found on a local gas pump, causing Hudson Valley residents to fear their bank accounts may be at risk.

During a routine check of local gas stations, Time Warner Cable News reports that authorities have discovered a skimming device. The electronic reader is placed over the credit card slot on a gas pump or ATM and records your account data. The device is even able to capture your pin number as it is punched into the pump.

If you filled up at the Shell gas station on Route 52 and Fifth Avenue in Newburgh you may have been affected. However, there's no way of telling how long the device has been collecting data on the pump and if the information has been obtained by the people who put it there.

With over 5,800 gas pumps in Orange County, officials are doing their best to make sure every single one is inspected regularly. In the meantime, the best way to protect yourself is to check the pump for a loose credit card reader, a sign that it may actually be a skimmer. Also, covering the keypad as you enter your pin may block the device from recording your pin. Of course, you could also just opt to pay with cash if you're concerned about the risk.

The gas pump in question has been taken out of service and police are looking at security footage as they investigate how the device got there.