PHOENIX -- Someone is stealing credit card information from drivers filling up at the pump at various gas stations, according to the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures.

Police in Kingman, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City have reported a rash of "skimming" scams at various gas stations, and they said the crooks could be headed to Phoenix.

Investigators said the scam artists are installing small devices, like a flash drive, into the credit card portion of the gas pump that will then record the personal data of drivers when they swipe their cards.

"They wire it in, close the dispenser back up and off they go," said Dennis Ehrhart, director of Arizona's Department of Weights and Measures. "Whenever they want, they come back, open it up and retrieve the device that has all the credit card and debit card information."

Ehrhart said there's not a lot consumers can do to protect themselves, since there is nothing visible on the gas pump to raise a red flag. The only way to guarantee you wont get ripped off is to pay in cash.

"The convenience of credit cards is wonderful, but not if people will start robbing you,"said Phoenix driver Sheila Maravec. "They rob you blind and you don't know it until way after the fact."

Authorities suggest reporting any suspicious activity around gas stations and check your monthly credit card statement more closely to spot any charges you didn't make.

So far, no arrests have been made in the gas station skimming scams.

Police are asking business owners to apply security stickers to their pumps so they can see if they've been tampered with.