News you can use. I try to use a pump that the cash register can see.
It's best to look out for simple signs of tampering, which doesn't involve showing up to gas pumps with a magnifying glass. Don't just look with your eyes, feel with your hands.
Take a quick glance at the other payment terminals at the gas pumps for inconsistencies, as explained by the FTC. If the one you're standing at looks strikingly different in any way (extra attachments on the card slot, loose features, wires showing, and gaps between parts), chances are it has a skimmer.
But don't be too hard on yourself for unluckily picking the bad pump — the safe ones tend to be closest to the building.