'Screw scam' spurs new fears for drivers when filling their tanks
The Timberville Police Department warned of a scam that can be installed onto a gas pump with just a screw. (Timberville Police Department via Facebook)
EDITORS NOTE: More questions have been raised after a small town police department in Virginia posted on social media about an apparent "screw scam" involving a gas pump. Since then, some have said what was alleged as a potential scam is not possible or highly unlikely.
FOX Television Station reporters have reached out to various government agencies across the country.
An inspector with the Minnesota Department of Commerce Weights and Measures Division provided the following statement:
"The few videos I have seen show someone jamming a screw into the boot of the dispenser, causing the internal activator to be pinned in an upward position. If this is truly how it’s done, then I am skeptical because the dispenser shuts off when you place the nozzle back into the boot. So, if I jammed something in there to make that internal valve stay up, then wouldn’t it behave as if the nozzle had been hung up? I would think you need the pump activated to do this. That said, we do have a tip for people so they don’t fall victim to this scam if it’s happening: Get a receipt. A receipt cannot be generated until the pump has been deactivated after fueling."
FOX Television Station reporters also reached out to Gas Buddy, a popular mobile and web platform that helps drivers find the cheapest gas prices.
Patrick De Haan from Gas Buddy provided the following statement:
I've literally never heard of this before, and pumps often have different styles of start/stop mechanisms, which would make this variable and unlikely. Sounds like a TikTok fake/bogus info post.
'Screw scam' spurs new fears for drivers when filling their tanks
A Virginia police department is warning drivers about a new way scammers are trying to rip off people when they fill their tanks: the gas pump screw scam.
Big picture view:
The Timberville Police Department explained the scammers would place a screw or some other object in a fuel pump handle cradle. The item would block the pump from properly shutting off after someone fueled up and replaced the handle.
Why you should care:
With the pump still active, the scammers could pull up afterward and make their own fuel purchases on the victim’s credit or debit card.
What you can do:
The police department recommends people check the pump before and after filling up whenever they stop for gas. If anything seems off or if the pump looks like it has been tampered with, drivers should not use the pump and notify the attendant immediately.
In a Facebook post, authorities also advise checking that the pump reads $0.00 before starting and making sure the transaction has completely ended before driving off.
What they're saying:
The police department reminds everyone, "Staying alert and reporting suspicious activity can help protect you and others from becoming victims of this scam."
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the Town of Timberville Facebook page. This story was reported from Orlando.