No, Criminals Aren't Using Screws at Gas Pumps to Scam You — But Real Threats Do Exist
“Criminals are using screws at gas pumps to scam customers”
The argument in brief
Viral posts claim criminals place screws at gas pumps to trigger extra charges or scam customers. This specific claim is unsubstantiated — no verified police reports or documented cases support it. The real gas pump threat is electronic card skimmers, which the FBI says cost consumers over $1 billion a year.
Why it spread
The claim feels believable because gas pump fraud is genuinely common, and a physical object like a screw makes the warning feel concrete and specific. When something seems like a public safety tip, people share it instinctively to protect the people they care about — even before checking whether it is true.
A warning has been circulating on social media claiming that criminals are placing screws at gas pumps as part of a scam targeting customers. It sounds specific, alarming, and worth sharing. The problem: there is no credible evidence it is true.
Snopes and USA Today both investigated the viral claim and came up empty. Neither found a single verified police report, documented case, or credible source confirming that screws are being used this way at any gas pump anywhere. The National Association of Convenience Stores, which tracks fuel fraud closely, has no record of this method either.
Gas pump fraud is absolutely real — just not this version. The FBI warns that criminals install electronic skimming devices inside or on top of pumps to silently steal your credit and debit card information. These skimmers are hard to spot and cost American consumers more than $1 billion every year, according to the FBI. The FTC has a dedicated page advising people how to check for them before paying at the pump.
The screw story appears to take that genuine fear of pump fraud and attach it to a made-up or misunderstood mechanism. The result is a claim that feels credible because it is anchored in a real problem, but the specific detail — the screw — has no documented basis.
To actually protect yourself, the FTC recommends wiggling the card reader before use, covering the keypad when entering your PIN, and using a credit card or mobile payment instead of a debit card when possible. These steps guard against the fraud that is actually happening. Sharing unverified screw warnings, however well-intentioned, can drown out accurate safety information.
Sources
- Snopes
Snopes investigated viral claims about screws being placed at gas pumps to scam customers and found the specific viral version (screws triggering extra charges) to be unverified and likely false, though gas pump fraud does exist in other forms.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC warns consumers about gas pump skimmers — devices criminals install inside or on pumps to steal card data — which is a real and documented form of gas pump fraud, but does not involve screws as described in viral posts.
- National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)
Industry groups document real gas pump fraud including skimming and tampering, but the specific 'screw' scam circulating on social media does not correspond to any documented fraud method in their records.
- USA Today Fact Check
USA Today found no credible evidence or documented police reports supporting the claim that screws are being used at gas pumps to scam customers, calling the specific viral claim unsubstantiated.
- FBI — Financial Crimes
The FBI documents gas pump skimming as a real crime costing consumers over $1 billion annually, but the mechanism involves electronic card-skimming devices, not screws or mechanical tampering as described in viral social media posts.
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