For most of us, pumping gas is a routine and mundane task so it's hard to imagine a fill up could be disguised as a shakedown.
Twice a year, Weights and Measures inspectors examine 3,300 gas pumps in Franklin County looking for credit card skimmers designed to copy the numbers on your card, even the PIN number, in just a few seconds.
"You're giving it to them and what's really bad about it is you don't know it," Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo said.
Inspectors told 10TV even to the trained eye, a skimmer can be tough to spot.
"We have to follow it from the card reader all the way back to the CPU board because they can put them in on the front end all the way to the motherboard," Weights and Measures supervisor Justin Rogers said.
Pumps that pass inspection are labeled with a red sticker. Look for it before you swipe your card to pay for gas. Consumers, like Mark Chambers, said it's reassuring to know someone is looking out.
"Makes me feel better that someone is out there paying attention to it," Chambers said.
Mingo said inspectors have never discovered a skimmer in Franklin County but said thieves don't need skimmers to steal your credit card information.
Police said many people are unaware they can become victim's of "electronic pickpocketing." A thief can simply use a cell phone to get your card number, even if it's tucked away in your purse or wallet.
The technology is called RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification. The device is similar to what retailers use in stores.
It's easy to buy and criminals can download an APP for free.
Law enforcement also cautions your credit or debit card can also be vulnerable at drive-thrus. In Westerville, a fast food worker was caught on camera swiping a customer's credit card.
Police in Powell said they investigated a similar case and said skimming pays well.
"She got $10 per credit card that she skimmed that day. At a restaurant drive-thru, you get 100 credit cars...that's a lot of money," Detective Darren Smith.
Police urge you to pay cash when you can, and if you do have to use your credit card, put down your cell phone and keep your eyes on your card the entire time it's in the hands of stranger.
Smith said even he has become a victim of credit card fraud, not once, but twice.
"They somehow got my credit card and then purchased something," Smith said.
It shows the bad guys will target anybody, and you can't watch your money too closely.
Police said it's critical you make it a habit to check your accounts every day and report any questionable charges immediately.
And retailers are now selling RFID blocking merchandise, everything from wallets to luggage, to keep thieves from getting your credit card numbers.