Photos released of suspects in gas station credit card skimming case

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. (BCN) - The Central Marin Police Authority has released photos of two suspects in a credit card skimming fraud case that has victimized dozens of people, a police spokeswoman said.

All of the victims used their credit or debit card at the pumps of the Gas & Shop at 750 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in San Anselmo during the past 60 days, police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said.

As of late Saturday afternoon, 50 people who used their card at the gas station were victimized, Rohrbacher said. Police said last week the fraud was occurring in Marin, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.

One victim last week said $500 and $400 were withdrawn separately from his account, Rohrbacher said.

The thieves capture data from the magnetic strip of the victims' credit card or debit card pin number and then make a card that contains that data, according to Rohrbacher.
  
The card skimmers can be on the outside or inside of a gas pump, Rohrbacher said. Central Marin Police Authority detectives determined last week that the skimmers were no longer in place at the Gas & Shop station.
  
The two suspects were photographed by ATMs at banks when they withdrew money from the victims' accounts, Rohrbacher said.
  
Both suspects are men in their 30s with tan skin and a full beard. One suspect is heavy-set and wore a dark colored sweatshirt, beanie and dark colored pants.

The second suspect was thinner and wore a red hat and dark colored jacket with a light colored shirt underneath.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the suspects in the photos to call Central Marin police at (415) 927-5150.