Skimming machine found at Calgary gas pump prompts social media warning

A funny thing happened while Jeremy Ensign was filling up with gas over the weekend adebit and credit card skimmer fell off the pump when he tried to pay.

• How to protect your credit, debit cards from skimming schemes

After calling police, Ensign posted photos of his experience to social media, which has now been shared more than 50,000 times.

It was about 2 a.m. Saturday and Ensign was on his lunch break from an overnight shift when he stopped at a Husky station at 52nd Streetand 106th AvenueS.E.

"I went up to the pump to go pay for my fuel, as I'm pulling my card out a piece of plastic came off," he told the Eyeopener.

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"Not thinking anything of it I turned it over and looked and there's a chip in there with some wires. The first thing that popped in my head was a skimmer."

Calgary police confirmed a device was seized and a forensic analysis is underway. However, it is not known how long it had been there or the number of potential victims.

In an email, a spokesperson with Husky Energy said the company is co-operating with police in the investigation.

"They checked all the pumps and that was the only one found," said Ensign.

If the device hadn't fallen off, Ensign said he would have had no idea it was there.

"If you look at the pictures it looks identical to the piece that was on the fuel pump, it looks exactly the same as where you put your card in," he said.

"What I've been told over numerous messages over Facebook is they can use Wi-Fi... as you're pulling [your card] out it will connect to their computer and they steal your information."

• Credit card skimming devices on pay-at-pump machines on rise, police warn

Ensign said he was told by police it is rare for a skimming machine to be installed at a gas pump. Despite that, he warned peopleto be wary.

"Check the pump," he said.

"Just check the pump."

With files from the Eyeopener