Geolocating App Provides Digital Payment, Receipt Options

In response to an increasing number of skimmer fraud instances reported by the California Independent Oil Marketers Association, a new CardlessSwipe option has emerged as an alternative for cardlock fueling stations.

The new technology, which uses a geolocating CardlessSwipe app, allows drivers to bypass swiping their physical card at the pump, saving time by eliminating the need to exit the vehicle. Concerns about stolen or lost cards, or getting locked out of the system due to worn cards are also no longer valid.

“This is all through an app, so drivers can pull up to a station that has the CardlessSwipe capability, open the app on their phone, and it automatically finds their station’s location,” said Keith Kerslake, SCL Fuels Specialist. “They enter their unique code into the app, their odometer reading and their pump, and it automatically activates. Compared to what a lot of what our customers have to do, it’s very sleek.”

Cardlock stations without the cardless capability require drivers to pull up at a pump, walk to a pedestal where their card is verified, return to the pump to fuel, and then return back to the pedestal to collect their receipt.

In addition to saving time, the most significant plus to CardlessSwipe is an added layer of security. Because CFN and cardlock cards do not carry the same level of security as personal credit cards, monitoring usage and determining abnormal activity is often the sole responsibility of fleet managers.

In many cases, especially where fleets are particularly large, breaches can sneak by even the most attentive managers.

“We’ve had some major hits in the past year due to fraudulent charges and instances where thieves have installed skimmers on pumps,” Kerslake said. “This effort is CFN working to install precautions to reduce those instances.”

Skimmer tampering, which has been reported at several Card Reader in Dispenser (CRIND) fuel pump systems recently, occurs at cardlock fueling systems in much the same manner as consumer-facing fuel stations.

Skimmers are installed when reader doors are unlawfully opened and fraudulent readers are attached to legitimate payment terminals. If successful, they allow credit card data to be stolen after every single swipe at the terminal. At that point, it’s easy for thieves to clone cards, compromise bank accounts, and put financial security for companies of any size in jeopardy.

Participation in the CardlessSwipe option is up to independent CFN owners, Kerslake said. Currently, the option is available at SCL locations in San Marcos and Vista, Calif., with many others nationwide also making the option available.

CFN owners are responsible for a nominal annual fee if they opt for CardlessSwipe. All other conveniences of cardlock fueling, including consolidated billing and competitive pricing, are not affected by the new technology.

To find out if your CFN station carries the CardlessSwipe option, contact your CFN owner directly.

Contact an SCL Consultant today

In a wide range of industrial sectors, SCL is committed to being the number one logistics and solutions provider for the products that protect and optimize the machines that keep our country moving. We pride ourselves on remaining at the forefront of industry trends and technological innovations, and as the market continues to evolve, we are committed to providing extensive product and industry knowledge and total performance satisfaction for our customers. For information on how we can assist your fleet in choosing the optimal products at a competitive price, contact an SCL expert today.