‘Pump-switching’ scam rises in popularity in Pennsylvania as gas prices soar
SHOWING AVERAGE GAS PRICES BY COUNTY. WELL, AS PRICES SPIKE, SOME PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO SEEING A RISE IN A SCAM. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE’S GOODWILL. IT’S CALLED PUMP SWITCHING, AND THIS IS WHERE SCAMMERS OFFER TO PUMP YOUR GAS AND THEN PUMP SOME MORE ON THE VICTIMS TAB. BY NOT PROPERLY PUTTING THAT NOZZLE BACK AND THEN DRIVING AWAY. KELSEY KUSHNER SPOKE TO TWO PEOPLE, FELL FOR IT AND SHOWS HOW EASY IT CAN BE. IT WAS A ROUTINE STOP FOR GAS THAT TURNED INTO AN EXPENSIVE LESSON FOR MIGNON ADAMS, SHE SAYS. BACK IN FEBRUARY, SHE STOPPED AT THIS GAS STATION OFF WALNUT STREET WHEN A STRANGER APPROACHED HER OFFERING TO HELP PUMP HER GAS. A YOUNG MAN WALKED UP TO ME AND SAID, I CAN FILL YOUR TANK FOR YOU IF YOU WANT. AND I SAID, THAT’S OKAY, I’LL FILL IT. I GOT OUT, I FILLED THE TANK. ALTHOUGH SHE DECLINED, SHE SAYS THE MAN DIDN’T WALK AWAY. HE SAID, I’LL PUT IT BACK ON THE GAS PUMP FOR YOU. OH, OKAY, I SAID. HE WALKED OVER AND PUT. I THOUGHT, PUT THE NOZZLE BACK ON THE FUEL PUMP. SURE LOOKED LIKE IT. ADAMS TIPPED THE MAN FOR HELPING HER OUT AND DROVE OFF. SHE SAYS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT $28 TO FILL UP, BUT HER CREDIT CARD BILL STATED OTHERWISE. THE BILL WAS $150. I DRIVE A TOYOTA. THERE ISN’T ANY WAY YOU COULD GET $150 WORTH OF GAS IN MY CAR’S GAS TANK. IT’S CALLED PUMP SWITCHING. SCAMMERS OFFER TO HELP PUMP YOUR GAS AND NEVER PROPERLY HANG UP THE NOZZLE TO END THE TRANSACTION. INSTEAD, THEY USE YOUR ACTIVE TRANSACTION TO FILL UP THEIR CAR ON YOUR DIME OR PUMP GAS FOR OTHERS IN EXCHANGE FOR CASH. THEY DO COME UP TO YOU AND SAY, CAN I HELP YOU? AMY TRACHTENBERG SAYS SHE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AT THE SAME GAS STATION, AND THE SITUATION TURNED CONFUSING AND COSTLY. I GOT MY CREDIT CARD BILL AND THERE’S A $75 CHARGE FROM THAT SUNOCO STATION. THE MANAGER OF THE GAS STATION SAYS THEY PUT UP SIGNS TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT SCAMMERS, SAYING IT’S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST YEAR. FOR ADAMS, THE LOSS IS FRUSTRATING, BUT SHE’S CONCERNED TOO. IT COULD IMPACT NEXT. THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAPPENS TO THAT. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO BUY GROCERIES THAT WEEK. THAT WAS KELSEY KUSHNER REPORTING. PHILADELPHIA POLICE SAY THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THE SITUATION, AND SUNOCO SAY
‘Pump-switching’ scam rises in popularity in Pennsylvania as gas prices soar
Updated: 6:03 PM EDT Mar 24, 2026
As prices rise, some Pennsylvania communities are also seeing a rise in a scam called “pump-switching.” It’s where scammers offer to pump your gas and then pump some more on the victim’s tab by not properly putting the nozzle back, and then drive away. NBC 10’s Kelsey Kushner spoke to someone who fell for it. Back in February, Mignon Adams stopped for gas when a stranger approached her, offering to help pump her gas. Even though Adams declined, the man did not walk away and insisted on putting the gas pump back for her when she was done filling up her tank. Adams said she thought the man put the nozzle back on the fuel pump. She tipped him and drove off. Adams said her credit card bill for filling up her tank was $150. “I drive a Toyota. There isn’t any way you could get $150 worth of gas in my car’s gas tank,” said Adams. Some gas stations have even put up signs to warn people about scammers. “There may be some people that may not be able to go buy groceries that week,” said Adams.
As prices rise, some Pennsylvania communities are also seeing a rise in a scam called “pump-switching.”
It’s where scammers offer to pump your gas and then pump some more on the victim’s tab by not properly putting the nozzle back, and then drive away.
NBC 10’s Kelsey Kushner spoke to someone who fell for it.
Back in February, Mignon Adams stopped for gas when a stranger approached her, offering to help pump her gas.
Even though Adams declined, the man did not walk away and insisted on putting the gas pump back for her when she was done filling up her tank.
Adams said she thought the man put the nozzle back on the fuel pump. She tipped him and drove off.
Adams said her credit card bill for filling up her tank was $150.
“I drive a Toyota. There isn’t any way you could get $150 worth of gas in my car’s gas tank,” said Adams.
Some gas stations have even put up signs to warn people about scammers.
“There may be some people that may not be able to go buy groceries that week,” said Adams.