As gas prices rise, so does a scam called “pump switching,” which can cost you hundreds of dollars before you realize what’s happening.
When Mignon Adams stopped to get gas at the Sunoco gas station at Walnut and 22nd streets in Philadelphia in February, she didn’t think twice about the stranger who offered to pump gas for her.
She rejected him, but the man was undecided. When Adams filled her tank, he insisted on putting the nozzle back on for her. She tipped him and drove off.
Then she saw her credit card bill: $150.
“I drive a Toyota. There’s no way I can put $150 worth of gas in the tank,” Adams told NBC10 (1).
Adams is one of a growing number of Americans falling victim to a “pump-switching” scam, and with the national average price of regular gasoline exceeding $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, the cost of falling victim to it will only rise (2).
Scammers approach you at a gas station and offer to help you fill up. Whether you accept it or not, the goal is the same: control the nozzle and avoid returning it properly when you’re done.
This will keep your credit card transactions active. The scammer then turns to the next driver who pulls over and offers to fill up the tank for $20 cash. They pocket money as your card absorbs charges—and they don’t stop until the pump goes off or your card reaches its limit.
Police in Lower Merion Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, warned that scammers can be aggressive and may physically grab the nozzle when victims try to keep them away. Victims often don’t notice the additional charges until days or weeks later, by which time the scammers have long since disappeared.
Lower Merion Police Department. Sgt. Michael Keenan told reporters that switching pumps was a crime that “happens everywhere” (3). There is evidence to support this.
In California, Roseville police arrested a man accused of carrying out the same nozzle swapping scheme at least a dozen times in 2019. Two years later, suspects were caught on security cameras at a Sacramento County ARCO station exchanging nozzles on pumps – and those customers were eventually refunded(4).
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The scam has been documented in various states for years, but law enforcement officials say it tends to surge whenever natural gas prices rise significantly. Police reports also indicate that scammers tend to target women more frequently.
Some gas stations have begun posting warning signs. The manager of the Sunoco gas station where Adams was scammed told NBC10 the problem has been ongoing for the past year. Other victims in suburban Philadelphia reported charges as high as $165, 6abc Philadelphia reported.
The timing is no coincidence. Natural gas prices in the United States have risen sharply since military action against Iran was launched on February 28, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies (5).
As of early April, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $4.08, a 36% increase since the conflict began, according to AAA. In Pennsylvania specifically, prices climbed from $3.12 to $4.07 in just over a month (6).
Higher prices mean a higher price for every gallon the scammer pumps out of your money. Adams’ $28 raise shot up to $150. For many families already stretched thin by rising costs at grocery stores and gas stations, such unexpected expenses can be painful.
“There may be people who happen to be out there who may not be able to buy groceries that week,” Adams told NBC10.
Police and consumer protection experts recommend taking steps to avoid becoming a victim.
Make sure you are the one to put the nozzle back into the pump and end the transaction – either by hanging yourself or by pressing the “End Transaction” button on your keyboard. Grab your receipt before leaving. Using mobile payment options like Apple Pay or Google Pay also adds a layer of protection, since transactions are tied to your device rather than an open card reader.
If someone offers to pump gas for you and refuses, don’t try to take the nozzle away—instead, get back in your car, lock it, and call 911.
If you think you’ve been hit, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. One victim in the Philadelphia area reported the overcharge to her card issuer, but the fraudulent portion was reversed and she was only paid for the gas she actually pumped.
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NBC10 Philadelphia (1); AAA Newsroom (2) 6abc Philadelphia (3); ABC10 Sacramento (4); Associated Press (5) Keystone (6);
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. It is provided without any warranty of any kind.
