Are You Getting Scammed at the Gas Pump?

Are you getting scammed at the pump? With the price of gas are store owners really giving you the gas you pump? "When it says its dispensing 5 gallons, are you really getting 5 gallons?" Alan Rogers, program manager for the Virginia Office of Product and Industry Standards says. "We make sure when you purchase 89 octane, you get 89 octane."

In California, some stations were using equipment that tricked customers into believing they were getting more gasoline.

"There is a certain faction that feels they need to make an illicit profit,"

The gas dealers were especially difficult to catch there because the equipment initially fooled inspectors. While inspectors usually pump 1, 5 or 10 gallons of gasoline for testing, the illegal equipment ensured those amounts dispensed properly. "They were using our own test methods to beat us at our own games," said Rogers. "We started receiving enough complaints to lead us to believe something was going on."

When undercover inspectors pumped differing amounts of gasoline--such as 6 or 9 gallons--they discovered they were shortchanged by as much as a third. So with scams like this going on we as consumers need to watch out.

For example, if a gas pump is rigged, the gauge that shows gallon measurements will speed up right after the 1-, 5- and 10-gallon marks, and go really slowly as they approach those points. Also consumers should track their gas mileage and be concerned if it suddenly plummets. If you notice all of a sudden you're getting a lot less miles per gallon, that's usually an indicator. It could be a lower octane fuel. It could be you're not getting everything you pay for.

Besides this scam there are many more like this story.

My husband went to Island Tire on Palmetto Bay road to get gas. He put the nozzle in the tank and pressed the regular button. He set the handle to press on its own. Nothing happened so he went inside. He was told that they only had Super unleaded. He said that he did not want that and walked away. He went to another gas station. While there someone came up and took his license plate and accused him of stealing gas. The police paid us a visit a few hours later. Apparently, this gas station can pump super unleaded no matter what button you push!!!!! They pumped the $4.00 worth of gas without his knowledge. To the police the manager admitted that it was there mistake. But they made him come pay the $4.00 and when he did they were rude and still accusatory. Everyone wants to save money, and as sad as it is you can't trust the pump so I hope this helps to make people aware of the scams out there.