Ohio County Auditors Skimmer Sweep

2017 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Montgomery County, Ohio, OH

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About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Skimmer Sweep is a first-of-its-kind, coordinated effort on behalf of 64 Ohio county auditors to raise public awareness of skimming crime in the state. More than 80 inspectors from the 64 counties visited 1400 targeted stations over Labor Day weekend 2016, checking more than 12,000 gas pumps. Ultimately, 5 skimmers were found and the effort generated nearly 70 media hits, reaching all of Ohio’s major media markets. Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith spearheaded the event, coordinating the statewide inspection efforts and media outreach. Auditor Keith has been a leader in fighting Ohio’s skimming crime since August 2013 when his inspectors found the state’s first credit card skimmer. The Labor Day initiative protected holiday travelers by removing skimming devices. Skimmers are most frequently found before holiday weekends, when unsuspecting travelers are on the roads, and this particular weekend there were more than 30 million drivers nationally. However, its primary purpose is to generate media attention to teach consumers the precautions needed to remain safe while at the pump. Before the sweep, many Ohioans had never heard of credit card skimmers. This coordinated statewide effort has attracted a large amount of attention that has educated a wide audience on how they can protect their bank accounts. It also shows criminals that Ohio’s County Auditors are unified in confronting this illegal activity. The Skimmer Sweep was not only a one-time event. It is an ongoing statewide program. Ohio’s county auditors have continued the momentum by hosting more than a dozen Skimmer Summits across the state. These Summits generate additional media attention and provide a forum for community stakeholders to discuss the skimmer issue. In addition, Ohio’s county auditors will continue to periodically sweep the state, making sure Ohioans remain safe from the threat of credit card skimmers.

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