New scam

[sdcr]

Just when you think the scammers have run out of ideas, here is a new one that just popped up in my area...
https://6abc.com/gas-station-scam-pump-switching-fraud-consumer-news/13799536/

Be careful while topping off your V7.

[nc43bsa]

My immediate reaction would be to douse the miscreant with gasoline and say, "Oops, my bad."

[Tom]

They'll try that at Redbox videos rental stations.  You have to watch for credit card skimmers too.

[Huzo]

‘Problem with this sort of alert is, for every 9 people you save, you give one person a new idea.

[sdcr]

‘Problem with this sort of alert is, for every 9 people you save, you give one person a new idea.

So, your going to run with it, Huzo?

[Huzo]

So, your going to run with it, Huzo?

Nah…
If I was going to go down for theft, it wouldn’t be for a lousy couple of cups of fuel.

[sdcr]

Nah…
If I was going to go down for theft, it wouldn’t be for a lousy couple of cups of fuel.

What is your threshold for theft....$1000, $1,000,0000?

[Huzo]

What is your threshold for theft....$1000, $1,000,0000?

Don’t have one.

[Perazzimx14]

In my state I’d get back in my vehicle  and point to my castle doctrine sticker and dial 911. If the thief decided to try to continue to intimidate me and proceed with the robbery and escalate the situation then the de-escalator would be presented ant the next choice they made would be the most prudent of their life.

[aklawok]

Our local pumps only authorized $75 per transaction, @$6.35gal. ( here in Nome AK) that don't even fill half a tank in my truck before it shuts off! Good luck scamming that!

[rschrum]

They don't try that in a small town.

[rocker59]

Our local pumps only authorized $75 per transaction, @$6.35gal. ( here in Nome AK) that don't even fill half a tank in my truck before it shuts off! Good luck scamming that!

Exactly.  With pumps set at $75 or $100 per transaction, I can't fill either of our vehicles. 

[Perazzimx14]

They don't try that in a small town.

I imagine this happens more so at sketchy gas station (you know the nice ones where there they smell like curry and incense and have bars on all the window and the only access to the clerk is through a slotted speak hole in the bullet proof glass) in populated urban areas where the cowards prey on women or the elderly. Around here someone in a brodozer would probably run you over while rolling coal.

[sdcr]

I imagine this happens more so at sketchy gas station (you know the nice ones where there they smell like curry and incense and have bars on all the window and the only access to the clerk is through a slotted speak hole in the bullet proof glass) in populated urban areas where the cowards prey on women or the elderly. Around here someone in a brodozer would probably run you over while rolling coal.

I generally agree with your assessment. However, these incidents have happened in a suburban area of Lower Merion, which buffers the Hood. Coming to a neighborhood near you.

[Tom H]

As mentioned, pay at the pump normally has a dollar limit. But if you pay inside, some places want you to give them a dollar amount to charge your card up to, but some you can tell them you want to fill it up with no limit.

Also, remember that not all cars and truck have huge gas tanks.

Tom

[rocker59]

Also, remember that not all cars and truck have huge gas tanks.
 

These days, I normally pump $50.  That's about 14-gallons at just over $3.50 per.  I usually only fill up for trips.

With the local pumps I use shutting off at $100, that limits my exposure to $50.  The bad guy can only take me for $50, once I depart the pump with him standing there, nozzle in hand.

An easy solution for law enforcement would be to have the affected gas stations set their pump transaction limits to something like $50 and that would hamper these bad guys activities.