The Timberville Police Department is warning Virginia drivers about a gas pump screw scam that can keep a pump running after fueling ends. Police say a screw hidden in the nozzle cradle or another object in the handle area can stop the pump from shutting off properly when a driver replaces the nozzle, opening the door for someone else to use the same transaction later.
That matters because police say a scammer can pull up afterward and make fuel purchases on the victim’s credit or debit card. Drivers are being told to inspect the pump before and after fueling, avoid any pump that looks tampered with, and alert the attendant right away if something seems wrong. Police also say to make sure the pump reads $0.00 before starting and to confirm the transaction has completely ended before driving away.
The warning landed this week as Timberville posted the alert on Facebook and described a method that consumer experts say is more sophisticated than the skimmer devices that many drivers already know to watch for. Julie Wheeler said people should check whether the pump has been tampered with, adding that scammers have become “so much more sophisticated over the years.” She also said the goal is to keep “the transaction doesn’t finish,” so someone can come in behind and continue it on the driver’s card.
The Better Business Bureau serving western Virginia told consumers to look for signs that a pump has been altered. Wheeler advised drivers not to choose the furthest pump from the attendant, saying those are more likely to have been messed with out of view, and to fuel closer to where staff can see what is happening. She also said drivers who can lock their cards when not in use should do so, and should check credit card statements regularly, preferably every day, to catch unauthorized charges quickly.
There is a practical difference between the two cards if a charge does slip through. Wheeler said debit card fraud can return the money, but it comes out immediately and then has to be recovered, while a credit card charge can usually be disputed before payment is made. Anthony Ramsey, the program manager for the Virginia Department of Agriculture’s Office of Weights and Measures, said drivers should watch for the transaction to finish and make sure they get a receipt or see the pump screen reset before leaving.
The open question is how widespread the scam is and whether any specific station has been confirmed as affected. The police warning did not identify a victim or a location, but the advice is straightforward: stop fueling if anything looks off, notify the attendant, and call law enforcement if tampering is suspected. Timberville police said staying alert and reporting suspicious activity can help protect other drivers, too.
