Urgent warning to drivers over brazen gas pump theft sweeping US – and the tiny telltale sign to watch for

DRIVERS have been warned about a new credit card scam targeting them at petrol pumps.

As newer and easier payment methods emerge, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated at stealing people’s banking information.

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In Nebraska, criminals trick drivers into scanning their cards through a skimmer by disabling the contactless payment option at gas stations, KLKN-TV reports.

They do this by using a drill to make a hole in the contactless payment screen and forcing people to insert their cards into it.

Police in Aurora, Colorado, issued a warning about the scan yesterday and urged drivers to be on the lookout for suspicious holes.

Both departments say gaps in the contactless payment screen should be reported immediately to remove skimmers from the pumps.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), skimming occurs when criminals install illegal scanners on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, or gas pumps that collect the user’s account information and PIN.

Criminals can then use the collected data to create fake debit and credit cards that are used to withdraw money from the victim’s account.

The FBI had additional tips to avoid fraud, such as choosing gas pumps that are closer to the store because they are in an employee’s direct line of sight.

They say the closer a gas pump is to the store, the less likely a fraudster is to tamper with it.

Drivers are also advised to pay inside if available as this will not impact the in-store terminal.