New legislation filed to fight gas pump skimmers

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – A single skimming device at ATMs and gas pumps can steal information from as many as 5,000 people.

Authorities say the average consumer hacked by these devices has $1,000 stolen from their bank account. Now, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, has filed legislation to put the cap on skimmers.

It would require stronger security measures and increase punishments against those who carry fraudulent credit cards. Some, however, say it won’t help.

“It’s not really going to make a difference,” said Hamza Rashid, manager of the Sunoco on Colonial Boulevard. “There’s shootings and other theft things that go on all daylong. No matter what the penalty is, people still do it out there.”

The regulations have to go through the legislative process before taking effect.

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