May 14, 2026
What seems like a friendly gesture at the gas pump could end up costing you more than just a tank of gas.
Officials in Maryland are warning about a scam targeting gas station customers. Suspects offer to pump gas for unsuspecting drivers, then secretly keep the transaction running after the victim leaves, according to reporting by Baltimore news station WCBM. (1)
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The scammers are using what authorities call the "screw method," and it's so subtle that most victims don't even realize until it's too late.
With the sky-high gas prices lately, it's the last thing consumers need — and something you need to watch out for.
How the scam works
It starts with what appears to be a friendly gesture.
A stranger approaches someone at a gas station and offers to help pump their gas. Once the tank is full, the scammer appears to finish the transaction and returns the nozzle.
But instead of properly resetting the pump, the suspect places a small screw or object to prevent the nozzle cradle from registering that the transaction is complete, so the gas pump doesn't properly reset when the nozzle is returned.
After the driver leaves, the pump stays active and charges continue piling up on the victim's card. Because many people don't immediately review the total cost or check their receipts, the extra charges can go unnoticed until later.
Unlike card skimming scams, where criminals steal card data, this fraud exploits the gas station's own payment system in real time.
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The Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office says the scheme has been increasingly targeting older drivers, who may be more likely to accept help from strangers at the pump. Authorities say scammers may even quickly fill multiple vehicles or even sell the gas to other vehicles, before the station or victim notices anything unusual.
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How to protect yourself at the pump
Skimming scams and digital theft are still common, costing the U.S. roughly $1 billion a year according to the FBI. (2) But schemes like the "screw method" show that even ordinary, low-tech interactions at the pump can carry risks.
Here are ways you can protect yourself:
- Don't accept help from strangers if you didn't ask for it
- Make sure the nozzle is fully returned to the cradle after pumping
- Check that the gas pump display resets to zero or shows the transaction has ended
- Compare your receipt to the amount you expected to pay
- Monitor your credit card or bank statements for unfamiliar charges
- If something looks unusual, like an object lodged near the nozzle holder, report it to the station attendant immediately
- Avoid being distracted by your phone or leaving the pump unattended
- Consider using a credit card instead of a debit card, because these provide stronger fraud protections if you do end up noticing unauthorized charges later
- Consider using a pump that's closer to the store entrance, where it is more likely to be seen by store attendants
- If you can, pay inside instead of at the pump
- Use a mobile app that notifies you of your credit card payments, so you can spot unusual activity when glancing at your phone
If you think you've been scammed, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This helps protect others and helps authorities track where scams are happening. (3)
Scammers often rely on politeness and gaining people's trust by using a friendly gesture to get access to a transaction. The safest approach is the simplest: Just make sure you stay in control of your payment process from start to finish, and don't leave the pump until you're certain the transaction is complete.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
WCBM (1); FBI (2); Reader's Digest (3)
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Freelance writer with an economic development and consulting background.
