As gas prices rise, so does a scam called “pump-switching” — and it can cost you hundreds of dollars before you know it.
When Mignon Adams stopped for gas at the Sunoco station at Walnut and 22nd streets in Philadelphia in February, she didn’t think twice about the stranger who offered to pump her gas.
She refused him, but the man was late. When Adams finished filling her tank, he insisted on putting the nozzle back for her. She tipped him and left.
Then he saw his credit card bill: $150.
“I drive a Toyota. There’s no way I can get $150 worth of gas in my car’s gas tank,” Adams told NBC10 (1).
Adams is one of a growing number of Americans falling victim to a scam known as “pump-switching”—and with the national average above $4 for a gallon of regular gas for the first time since 2022, the cost to victims is only rising (2).
A scammer approaches you at the pump and offers to help you get your gas. Whether you admit it or not, the goal is the same: gain control of the nozzle and don’t turn it right back when you’re done.
This leaves your credit card transaction active. The scammer then turns to another driver who pulls in, offering to fill up his tank for $20 in cash. They pocket the money as your card absorbs the charges — and they won’t stop until the pump shuts off or your card hits its limit.
Police in Lower Merion Township, outside of Philadelphia, warn that scammers can be aggressive and physically take the nozzle from victims who try to turn them away. Victims often don’t notice the extra charges until days or weeks later, at which point the scammer is long gone.
Lower Merion Police Det. Sergeant Michael Keenan told reporters that pump-switching is a crime that “happens everywhere” (3). And there’s evidence to back it up.
In California, Roseville police arrested a man accused of running the same nozzle-swap scheme on at least a dozen occasions in 2019. Two years later, an ARCO station in Sacramento County caught suspects in a security camera swapping nozzles at the pump—those customers were eventually returned (4).
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The scam has been documented in various states for years, but law enforcement officials say it spikes when gas prices rise sharply. Police reports also indicate that scammers often target women more with this scheme.
Some gas stations have begun posting warning signs. A manager at the Sunoco station where Adams was scammed told NBC10 it’s been an ongoing problem for the past year. Other victims in the Philadelphia suburbs have reported charges as high as $165, according to 6abc Philadelphia reporting.
Timing is not a coincidence. Gas prices in the United States have risen sharply since military action against Iran began on February 28, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply (5).
As of early April, the national average for a gallon of regular gas reached $4.08, according to AAA — a 36% increase since the conflict began. In Pennsylvania specifically, prices have climbed from $3.12 to $4.07 in a month (6).
Higher prices mean each gallon the scammer pumps into your money costs more. Adams’ $28 fill-up balloons to $150. And for many families already stretched thin by rising costs at the grocery store and gas station, such unexpected fees can sting.
“There may be some people who may not be able to buy groceries that week,” Adams told NBC10.
Police and consumer protection experts recommend some steps to avoid becoming a victim.
Make sure you’re the one to return the nozzle to the pump and close your transaction — either by hanging it yourself or by pressing the “End Transaction” button on the keypad. Get the receipt before you leave. Using a mobile payment option like Apple Pay or Google Pay can also add a layer of security, as the transaction is linked to your device rather than an exposed card reader.
If someone aggressively offers to help you pump gas and won’t take no for an answer, don’t try to wrestle the nozzle away—instead, get back in your car, lock it, and call 911.
If you think you’ve been hurt, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. A Philadelphia-area victim who reported an overcharge to her card issuer.
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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 construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
