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300 skimmers found in Florida, so far this year

ORLANDO, Fla. — New gas pumps are being designed to defeat the use of skimmers, until then, be careful when you buy gas, say Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.

They told reporters today that, in the last seven months, 300 skimmers have been found in Florida. That’s more than the total number found in 2016.

“We believe that, on average, each (skimming) victim is losing approximately a thousand dollars,” Putnam said.

Businesses are also taking a hit.

State lawmakers beefed up the anti-skimming law to make it a crime to possess such a device, but it hasn’t made an immediate impact.

“We still continue to see an increase in the number of skimming devices that we are finding around the state,” Putnam added.

“Consumers who suspect a skimmer has been placed on a pump or financial device should call their local law enforcement’s non-emergency number,” Demings said.

His deputies located 19 skimmers in Orange County in the last 18 months. Two were found last week, said Demings.  He said they are typically found in the tourism corridor.

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