A warning about a supposed “gas pump screw scam” spread through local news sites and social media this month. Then the Virginia town behind the alert removed its post.
The warning came from Timberville, Virginia, where police had said scammers could place a screw or other object in a fuel pump’s nozzle cradle to stop a transaction from ending after a driver finished filling up.
The claim was alarming: a driver could pay, pump gas, hang up the nozzle, and leave while the pump stayed active for the next person. That next person could allegedly fill up on the first driver’s card.
But the screw-method warning has run into serious questions. Snopes said it had not found a single credible, verified report of a criminal using a screw to compromise a gas pump, and WHSV later noted that Timberville had removed its social media post after the story aired.
The Original Warning Spread Through Local News
The story first moved widely after WHSV reported on the Timberville warning and interviewed Julie Wheeler, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving western Virginia.
The original report said Timberville police had warned about screws hidden in the nozzle cradle. Wheeler told the station that drivers should check pumps before and after fueling and watch for signs of tampering.
Wheeler also said one broader concern at gas pumps is a transaction not properly ending before another person uses the pump. That distinction matters because the general risk of a pump transaction staying active is different from proving that criminals are using screws in nozzle cradles to steal gas.
The Screw Claim Ran Into Hoax Questions
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Carscoops reported that the Timberville post included a photo of a screw near the nozzle cradle. The outlet also noted that Snopes had already labeled the “gas pump screw scam” warning a hoax in May.
According to Carscoops, Timberville later said there had been “an incident” involving a screw found by a gas station attendant during an inspection. The town also said it had not received a report that someone’s credit card was used to fill other vehicles.
Pump Switching Is Still A Real Concern
Axios reported that “pump switching” remains a real issue, even as the screw-method claim drew hoax scrutiny. In pump switching, a person may distract a customer, offer to help, or avoid properly ending the transaction so another purchase can continue on the customer’s account.
Jeff Lenard, a spokesman for NACS, the convenience-store and fuel-retail trade group, told Axios that gas theft incidents tend to increase when fuel prices rise. He also said pump switching is a legitimate issue, even if the screw-method version is disputed.
Drivers Should Make Sure The Sale Actually Ends
Before pumping, make sure the display has reset to zero. After pumping, make sure the transaction ends and the screen shows the sale is complete before walking or driving away.
If something looks jammed, loose, broken, or unusual around the nozzle cradle or card reader, do not use the pump. Tell the station attendant instead.
Drivers should also be cautious about strangers who offer unsolicited help at the pump, especially if that person tries to handle the nozzle, rush the process, or keep the transaction going.