AUGUSTA – Maine state officials say credit card data skimming is taking place at gas stations throughout the state.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Division of Quality Assurance says it is alerting the public in the wake of illegal skimming devices found at gas stations by investigators in Brewer this week.

The agency says similar reports have also implicated drive-thru tellers at banks, ATMs and restaurants.

The agency’s inspectors who check gas pumps for accuracy also search for skimmers, which the state says is a growing problem in Maine.

Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb says inspectors are also working with gas station owners to prevent skimming.

Skimming devices are small and can be fastened near credit card readers by criminals to capture data from the magnetic strip on the cards.