# What Scam Was Attempted at the Gas Station? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633 "2021-08-27T18:25:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/1 "2021-08-27T18:25:53Z")
This happened years ago - I was pulling up to the pump at a pay-at-the-pump gas station when I noticed two women waving me over to another pump. I stayed where I was and got out of the car and started buying gas. They tried again to call me over to their pump, saying something to the effect of it had a five dollar overpayment on it I could have. I said no thanks. They said something like someone tricked me, then they tricked her, now there is five dollars left on the pump. I told them to talk to the gas station attendant. They said he didn’t understand. I just ignored them at that point, finished my business, and went on my way. This felt scammy. Was it? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/2 "2021-08-27T18:39:18Z")
WAG, but maybe they installed a credit card skimmer on that pump. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/3 "2021-08-27T18:40:00Z")
First thought, they put a card reader on the one on the pump. > **[Watch out for card skimming at the gas pump](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2018/08/watch-out-card-skimming-gas-pump)** > > With the summer travel season in high gear, the FTC is warning drivers about skimming scams at the pump. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/4 "2021-08-27T18:47:21Z")
Yep, the first thing they would have wanted you to do was to insert your credit card to claim the five-dollar overpayment. Wise choice to ignore them. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/5 "2021-08-27T22:22:50Z")
My thought is that they had someone else’s card. They get you to give them money, and give you gas that someone else pays for. You are not getting scammed, but someone else is. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/6 "2021-08-27T22:35:13Z")
I was thinking who is going to be swayed by a free five bucks in gas; given how expensive it is now, that’s only a gallon or two. But you said this was years ago, so perhaps it was closer to a dollar or so a gallon. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/8 "2021-08-28T19:16:26Z")
All the scenarios make sense. Interesting. They were quite brazen, as this was in the middle of the day at a large, busy gas station. I want to say Kroger or Wal-Mart. Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the best cover. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scam-was-attempted-at-the-gas-station/949633/9 "2021-08-29T21:01:24Z")
Also pay attention to who is on the other side of the pump. They’ll try to switch hoses, filling their vehicle with the one you’re paying on if you aren’t watching. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mXwP1CWtx4k/maxresdefault.jpg "SCAM ALERT Thieves Switch Hoses in New Gas Pump Swindle") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXwP1CWtx4k)