Heard About the Gas Station “Screw Method” Scam? It’s Totally Fake
Wise Brothers——Chattanooga, TN
Heard About the Gas Station “Screw Method” Scam? It’s Totally Fake
It’s important to know about ACTUAL scams that could take advantage of you . . . but sometimes people INVENT scams just to get others worked up. Or for social media clout.
Have you heard about the gas station “screw method” scam? The idea is that people stick a screw in the nozzle cradle of the gas pump so that it doesn’t return to the ‘off’ position when they’re done filling up.
That supposedly prevents the machine’s mechanisms from knowing the transaction is done and allows the scammer to pull up, fill up, and drive off . . . while the tab goes on the PREVIOUS person’s credit card.
It went viral on social media . . . with supposed quotes from law enforcement warning people to be on the lookout. But according to Snopes and several news sources, it’s a COMPLETE HOAX, and there’s no evidence of it ever working, or even happening to begin with.
It’s good to be vigilant . . . but also discerning, especially regarding half-baked social media “content.”
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
