Texas officials debunk viral ‘tap-to-pay sticker’ scam warning

AUSTIN — Texas regulators are urging consumers to ignore viral social media posts claiming criminals are using fake tap-to-pay stickers to steal credit card information at gas pumps.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said Tuesday that widely circulated videos showing people peeling off tap-to-pay decals from fuel pumps are misleading and may actually discourage use of the safest payment method available.

“While we all need to stay vigilant as criminals become more savvy, there are no legitimate instances reported where ‘tap-to-pay stickers’ have been used to steal data,” said Jeff Roberts, intelligence operations captain with the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center.

The viral posts, which have garnered thousands of shares across social media platforms, show individuals removing what appear to be adhesive decals from contactless payment terminals on gas pumps. The posts claim the stickers are placed by criminals to harvest card data from unsuspecting customers.

However, Roberts said the decals shown in the videos appear to be standard industry stickers used to replace worn or damaged tap-to-pay terminals. Fuel retailers regularly use such stickers to maintain clear visibility of payment options for customers.

The misinformation campaign comes as credit and debit card skimming devices continue to pose a legitimate threat to consumers. Traditional skimmers, which steal data from magnetic strips when cards are swiped, remain a persistent problem at fuel pumps across Texas.

“The tap-to-pay option at fuel pumps, especially when using a payment app, remains the safest method,” Roberts said.

The contactless payment technology, also known as near-field communication, encrypts transaction data and generates unique codes for each purchase, making it significantly more secure than traditional card swiping.

TDLR officials recommend consumers continue using tap-to-pay options but remain alert for any suspicious devices or stickers that appear to interfere with transactions. Any suspected tampering should be reported immediately to gas station personnel and to TDLR.

The agency, which regulates nearly 1 million licensees across 38 business and occupational programs, conducts regular inspections of fuel pumps and other equipment to protect public safety.

Consumers can find additional information about identifying card skimmers on TDLR’s website. The agency encourages anyone who suspects fuel pump tampering to file a report with state regulators.