WASHINGTON -- Federal investigators are looking into a new type of crime in which the criminal steals credit card information from pay-at-the-pump gas stations.

The U.S. Secret Service reports the new type of identity theft has been reported at gas stations in California and Florida.

In each case, the crooks got inside the electronics of the pump using a universal pass key. Once inside, they attached a small electronic device called a skimmer to the internal circuitry. The skimmer stores the number of every credit card that is swiped.

A few days later, the crook returns to the pump, removes his skimmer, then uses the numbers to produce credit cards with legitimate numbers and expiration dates.

Those duplicated cards were then used to collect cash and expensive merchandise.

Secret Service agents say gas station operators and drivers should be on the lookout for anything suspicious at the pump, and anyone who uses a pay-at-the-pump service should keep a close eye on their monthly statements.