06/18/2026
The current trend of the “Gas Pump Screw Scam” has been circulating throughout social media platforms for the past couple of weeks. This is mostly a hoax. Consumers may come across some pumps that have had flathead screws placed in the upper portion of the handle base right below the release gateway flap. The scam claims this is a way for the pump to stay “open” and cause your credit/debit card to stay active and possibly charge you for multiple fills after you have completed your fill. This is false. The reset on most standard pumps automatically times out after 45 seconds of non-use and can always be secondarily cancelled through the keypad. Furthermore, the pumps themselves reset once the pump handle is placed back into the cradle since the switch is activated by the gateway flap moving upward, not downward. Any screws found on a pump area in this manner are simply an inexpensive “fix” to make sure the gateway flap does not overextend forward and create an issue of hanging up the pump handle securely. Gateway flaps and springs wear out quickly from constant use and the parts are not always readily available nor affordable to replace. Your W&M team has spent a fair amount of time this week checking some stations based on direct complaint reports from consumers and we found no usage of secondary screws, no altered/damaged payment areas, and no inconsistent metering on fuel at these stations. If you see a screw placement on a pump, and it causes you concern, please use an alternate pump at that station and report it directly to the station worker. If you are concerned about a station, as always, please reach out to us for an investigative inspection.
Thank you,
Trumbull County Weights & Measures
“We Measure What Matters”
Trumbull County Auditor’s Office
160 High Street NW
Warren, OH
[email protected]
