With all of the trials and tribulations we have faced since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been one bad news headline after the other. It is exhausting to think about all the struggles that people have gone through. Not to mention the lengths they will go just to get by. Scammers are running strife in our communities. Seems the only way to combat this is to be aware of their little ploys. Just so that you do not end up a victim of someone else’s struggles. The next time you are filling up your gas tank, be vigilant! Because there are con artists who will have you pay for gas that is not your own. Without you even realizing it…
Gas Pump Heist
This story first came about in November 2021, but who knows how long it was going on before it made the news. Gas quite literally fuels the world, and prices have always fluctuated from lows to highs, but currently, the world is facing record-high prices, so we feel it necessary to bring awareness so that fewer people fall ray to these scams.
It is not surprising that some people have found scandalous way of avoiding the costs when they are filling up at the gas station. They are working in teams, having two cars pull up to a gas pump and as everyone else is going about their business, they quickly exchange the hoses so that each one is sitting in the other’s pump. As the pumps sit back to back, it is barely noticeable. Then, one of the cars drive away, leaving the other pretending as if he is waiting for someone, unsuspectingly.
Then, you drive up to the empty pump next to them, they wait for the moment you pull the hose’s trigger, and they press theirs simultaneously, so that you see the gas meter start spinning. Most people just assume that the hose belongs to the pump they are using, and if the meter is showing gas coming out, not many questions are asked. They go inside to pay, but they are actually paying for the pump next door. So, when you thought you were filling your tank, you are actually filling theirs, and paying for it too! Watch the video below for more detail.
Read: Carjacker brutally beats 72-year-old great-grandmother, steals her car, then dies in crash
How to Not Fall Victim to This
This scam was brought to the attention of the manager, Bobby Johl an ARCO gas station manager in Antelope, Sacramento Country. He wanted to alert people how quickly this scam can happen. Even giving some preventative measures to uphold so that not as many people fall prey. Some of these suggestions to thwart scammers are:
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- Make sure the hose is connected to the pump you are stationed at.
- Make sure that it is not hanging diagonally across the pump as it should originate from your side of the gas pump.
- Start your pump, and then release the trigger. If the meter stops reading as you release, then you know you are dealing with the right hose and pump connection so you can carry on filling.
The chances of the scammers having realized that you have noticed the trigger and managed to do that on-time with your release are not very high. So, they can be caught out that way.
Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe
Luckily there was good news for some of the victims who realized what was happening. The gas station refunded their money so they were able to get the full tank they had intended to purchase. Johl also reported the incidents to their corporate offices, as well as to the sheriff’s department for other investigation. Some scam artists have been caught in the past. Back in 2019, a man was arrested for the very same scam. He managed to pull it off dozens of times before he was caught. “I know people are going through hard times, but everybody is. So, don’t cheat your neighbor.”
Luckily falling victim to something like this is rare for the average person, but keep your eyes out nonetheless.
Keep Reading: A Driver Filed A Class Action Lawsuit Against 5 Gas Companies Over Rising Gas Prices
Sources
- “Keep an eye out for this gas pump scheme or you could end up paying for someone else’s gas.” Trend Central. Jessica.
- “Keep an Eye Out for This Gas Pump Scheme or You Could End Up Paying for Someone Else’s Gas.” Shareably. EDUARDO GASKELL. Dec 8, 2021
