Police in the small town of Timberville, Virginia, have warned drivers about a potential new scam involving gas pumps. This news has caused significant concern amid the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the US reaching $4.13.
How the scheme works according to police
In a Facebook post, the local police department reported that unknown individuals are allegedly inserting a screw or other small object into the holder of the gas pump nozzle. This blocks the mechanism that shuts off the fuel supply after a transaction is complete. If the nozzle is not properly returned to its place, the pump remains active, and subsequent drivers can fill up for free at the expense of the previous customer.
Law enforcement urges drivers to be vigilant: “No matter where you fill up your vehicle, always inspect the pump before and after use. If you notice anything unusual or suspect the pump has been tampered with, do not use it and immediately notify a station attendant.”
They also advise ensuring the display reads “$0.00” before starting to pump, and waiting for the transaction to fully complete before driving away. For clarity, the police published an image showing a screw located near the flap behind the gas nozzle.
Is this true? Doubts and debunking
Many have questioned the reality of this scheme. The fact-checking website Snopes called this warning a “hoax” back in May. In their opinion, the people and organizations spreading this information could not provide any credible, confirmed reports of criminals using screws to defraud consumers at gas stations.
Furthermore, a representative for the Shell network stated they were unaware of any such incidents. He emphasized that their gas pumps have an automatic shut-off feature that terminates the transaction after a certain period of inactivity.
Reaction of Timberville authorities
Despite the skepticism, Timberville authorities insist that “the incident did occur.” According to them, an employee of one gas station found a screw during an inspection of the pumps. However, they admit they have not received any reports of anyone’s credit card being used to fill up other vehicles. The town council explained their warning by stating that “this information is circulating on social media, and we wanted everyone to be aware.”
Of course, everything seen on the internet is not always true. Some speculate that the screw might have been left behind after equipment repair. Nonetheless, basic safety measures never hurt: always check that your transaction is complete before driving away from the pump.
This story is a classic example of how information, even unconfirmed, can spread quickly through social media and cause panic. Although the Timberville police acted with good intentions in warning the public, the lack of actual victims and the debunking by experts and major gas station chains suggests that the scale of the threat was likely exaggerated. At the same time, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of basic caution: even if this particular scheme turned out to be a hoax, paying attention to details when paying and using any self-service machines remains the best defense against real fraudsters.