As customer payment information security becomes a top priority, retailers are seeking ways to ensure that their customers’ data is safe.
NACS has teamed up with The Pinnacle Corp. in an effort to help convenience store operators combat skimming. Skimming is a growing concern in the convenience industry, as fuel dispensers are one of the many targets for thieves looking to seize credit and debit card information.
According to a report from NACS, a new mobile solution has been created as a result of the partnership between Pinnacle and NACS. The companies have introduced the new SkimDefend app to work in conjunction with tamper-evident NACS WeCare decals. The decals help retailers identify possible security breaches when fuel dispensers or other unattended devices have been opened to install skimming devices. The new SkimDefend app allows operators to scan the codes at pumps where a NACS WeCare decal is applied, or enter the numbers manually.
The report from NACS identified the two main functions of the SkimDefend app:
- Register NACS WeCare decals, their physical locations and capture the GPS coordinates.
- Verify NACS WeCare decals have not been tampered with.
- If a decal has been tampered with, store operators can record information and take pictures of the device in question.
NACS stated that store operators can monitor fuel pumps through the virtual tracking mechanism that is created with the new app. The app also helps to provide forensic evidence should a skimming incident occur. Also, by only tracking legitimately purchased decals, the app helps to combat thieves who purchase and/or counterfeit tamper-evident labels.
The SkimDefend app is available to convenience store operators free of charge. It can be downloaded to Apple and Android mobile devices, while NACS WeCare decals can be purchased at nacsonline.com.
