How to Avoid Gas Station Pump Replacement Scams

Last month , the police department in Lower Marion, Pennsylvania , just north of Philadelphia, warned residents about a new scam. But unlike those that happen online, this scam happens in real time and in person: at a gas station, to be exact. Here’s what you need to know about so-called “pump switching” and how to avoid it.

What is “pump switching”?

In the early days of automobile travel, as in modern New Jersey, gas station employees known as “attendants” pumped gasoline for customers. While some gas stations still offer full refueling services, refueling yourself is now the norm.

For this reason, if a person were to approach you at a gas station and offer to do it for you, you might be annoyed, especially considering that, according to the Lower Marion Police Department , gas station change suspects are “often very aggressive and outright refuse from services.” attempts by the victim to refuse help.”

Police reports indicate that fraud is usually carried out in one of two ways :

1. The customer uses his credit card to pay at the gas station. The scammer offers – or insists – to pump gas for them or return the nozzle to the pump if they are finished. Instead of returning the injector, they use it to fill their car with gas using someone else’s money.

2. It all starts the same as the first scenario, except that the scammer does not replace the injector after refueling his own car. Instead, they keep it active and offer to pump gas for other customers and ask them to pay cash for the fuel. The scammer pockets the money and the original customer pays for everything.

How to Avoid Pump Switch Scams

It’s unclear how common pump switch scams are outside of Pennsylvania, but it can’t hurt to be aware of it. Luckily, avoiding scams is quite easy.

First, unless you intentionally go to a full service station or fill up in New Jersey, don’t let random strangers pump your gas. Always return the nozzle to the pump yourself to complete the transaction and wait until the screen asks if you want a receipt.

Police recommend getting a receipt as proof that the transaction is complete, but if you know you’re not going to do this, at least wait until the welcome message appears on screen with instructions for new customers.

If you or someone you know has experienced a similar gas station scam, here’s what to do, Deth says. Sergeant Michael Keenan of the Lower Marion Police Department: “Move to a safe distance. Call 911 if you are near a gas station. Wait for someone to come over and point out who took the throttle from you or who you think is deceiving you.”