Pump Switching at Fuel Stations, Another One to Watch out For
In the News
There is a new scam sweeping across America called “pump switching,” which will probably start here very soon
It happens when you are using your credit card to pay for fuel
When you have finished filling the car , if you haven't set a limit, you need to put the nozzle back in the cradle to finish the transaction and the fuel flow
The scammers offer to be good samaritans and replace the nozzle for you , in reality they dont replace it on the cradle, and when you drive off they continue to fill up their cars using your credit
The scammers are looking for people who may be good-natured or appear to be physically weak to offer to pump their fuel or to hang the nozzle for them, so older people are more at risk
So be careful and dont hand over the nozzle to anyone , replace it yourself
lifehacker.com/how-to-avoid-pump-switching-scams-at-the-gas-station-1850947323
I'm amazed by the scams that crooks can dream up and this is a new one. I'm sure elderly people could be caught out by this scam. This scam could be used worldwide in the poorest countries.
I know in america there are people who pump gas at stations (i think) so it stands to reason over there that it could happen more. In the uk if someone offered to put the nozzle back for me id definitely find that weird tbh
Some nasty people out there. Surely though if you are fit enough to drive you are fit enough to replace a nozzle. I would find it weird too. However if I can I always set a limit. I never pay by credit but direct debit and always insist on a receipt.
JLouM I expect they use the element of surprise J, some people might just hand over the nozzle without thinking forgetting they need to replace it , or because they dont want cause a scene and question the act , and i have seen receipts left not just in fuel slots but also at cash machines , i often have to remove them before i make my transaction
And cash machines are another favourite for thieves, there are all kind of ways they steal from there , the dropped cash trick, card skimmers , cameras in false compartments on the ATMs etc etc , again people don't know what is happening until it is too late or may not have heard of these tricks
So people can be careless in many situations and this is what the scammers depend on
JLouM It's when the robber drops some cash, usually a small denomination like a £5 note, behind the victim while he or she is using the card in the atm , they then tap the victim on the shoulder to tell them they have dropped it, if there is cash in the slot another robber snatches it while the other distracts with a conversation , as they sometimes work in pairs, or if the victim hasn't completed the transaction they might grab the card having viewed the pin number and rush to another cash machine to draw out as much as they can before the victim has a chance to cancel the card
They sometimes take the card and replace it with another if they have time , again an elderly victim might not notice the switch until it is too late or they tell the victim the machine has swallowed the card when they were not looking, if the bank is closed or it is over the weekend they then have time to use the card as the victim probaby wouldn't cancel it
There are many others i have read about , so you need to be very aware , try to pick a place where there are other people around and it is well lit , and in the day
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