Auditor’s Office Conducting Skimmer Sweeps Ahead of Summer Travel

Published on 22 May 2026

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend and the busy summer travel season, the Franklin County Auditor’s Office has been conducting skimmer sweeps at gas stations across the county and will continue those inspections in the coming weeks to help protect consumers from fraud.

The sweeps are part of the Auditor’s Office’s routine Weights and Measures inspections, which are conducted year-round on gas pumps, cash registers and price scanners throughout Franklin County, outside the city of Columbus. The city of Columbus operates its own Weights and Measures program.

So far, Auditor’s Office inspectors have not found any skimmers during this year’s sweep. Inspectors will continue checking pumps and scanners for accuracy, signs of tampering and illegal skimming devices. Pumps and scanners that pass inspection receive a verification sticker.

“The good news is our inspectors have not found any skimmers during this year’s sweep, but prevention and vigilance matter,” Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said. “As residents and families head into Memorial Day weekend and the summer travel season, our team will continue working to protect consumers from fraud and help ensure people get what they pay for.”

Skimmers are illegal devices installed by thieves to steal credit or debit card information from card readers. They often target magnetic stripe readers and can be difficult for consumers to detect.

In 2025, the Auditor’s Office inspected 5,103 gas pumps, cash registers and scanners for skimmers and accuracy.

Consumers can help protect themselves by checking for signs of tampering before using a card reader, using contactless payment when available and monitoring bank or credit card statements for unauthorized charges.

For more information about how the Auditor’s Office works to protect consumers from fraud, visit the office’s Weights and Measures website at auditor.franklincountyohio.gov/Consumer/Weights-and-Measures