Gas pump scam

[snopes]

Subject: Beware: This happened to a friend of a friend recently. True
story.

Not all of us travel to Detroit or even close, but if this happens
there, it can happen other places as well. Just be aware! Kathy

FYI, You may want to share this sad story with friends and family.

I am sending this email because I want everyone to be careful this
Holiday season. Yesterday, I stopped at the Speedway on the I-75 service
drive and Jefferson to get gas. I took all the precautions I could,
making sure it was still daylight and choosing a gas station that was
PACKED with customers. I swiped my card and nicely dressed younger guy
walked over to me asking if he could pump my gas, I told him no, but he
began to insist and made me uncomfortable enough that I gave in and
allowed him to pump the gas. He pumped $40 in my tank and I thanked him
and asked that he replace the pump so I could leave. He refused. He
told me to move my car from in front of the pump. I refused and again
insisted that he hang up the pump because I could see that my credit
card had not been finalized. He got belligerent and began cursing and
told me I'd better move my car. I noticed a turquoise Saturn with two
more men inside pull up behind me, and when the guy and I began to have
back and fourth dialogue, out of nowhere the Saturn ran into the back of
my van. When I still didn't move they hit my car 2 more times. At
this point I was could see a bad situation getting progressively worst.
It infuriated me that in a gas station full of people, NO ONE came to my
aide. I quickly jumped in my car and moved out the way and ran into the
gas station. The thieves managed to pump $30 into their tank before they
drove off. I am lucky they only got gas, because they could have robbed
or even assaulted me. I think it is horrible that in a city I have
loved my entire life; I have to be afraid to pump gas. Thieves are so
brazen they are robbing us in broad daylight now? Detroit was rated the
most dangerous city in the U.S. and I had a front row ticket to the show
on yesterday. Please be careful when we are in the streets, and not
just the city, but the suburbs too. People are getting crazier
everyday, and we have to be aware and on alert at all times.


Send this to everyone you know*.this is not an urban legend, it
happened to me right in the heart of Downtown Detroit on Monday November
19, 2007, so it could happen to you too!

Gloria N. Burns
Performance Evaluation Specialist III

[Mateus]

I love how people put their job titles after their names in these BS letters, as if being a Performance Evaluation Specialist III makes it more credible than being a Performance Evaluation Specialist I or II. Perhaps it's a reflection on American Society that we are more socially stratified by our jobs than we realize.

Mateus
Deputy Speaker (Elect), House of Representatives, Corning Community College

[annabohly]

I have to say I agree.

Annabohly
Customer Service Representative XVI

Originally Posted by Mateus

I love how people put their job titles after their names in these BS letters, as if being a Performance Evaluation Specialist III makes it more credible than being a Performance Evaluation Specialist I or II. Perhaps it's a reflection on American Society that we are more socially stratified by our jobs than we realize.

Mateus
Deputy Speaker (Elect), House of Representatives, Corning Community College

Originally Posted by annabohly

I have to say I agree.

Annabohly
Customer Service Representative XVI

I don't know. Sometimes, if this is a copy of an e-mail, their signature block may come with it without them having to do anything.

Doug4.7
Mad Scientist

Also, "Performance Evaluation Specialist III" may be the lowest grade. In many of the jobs here, one starts at "Performance Evaluation Specialist III" and works their way UP to "Performance Evaluation Specialist I" (or even "Performance Evaluation Supervisor").

[RobDBlackwolf]

First I would not say it was a scam. It was robbery, plain and simple. A scam is something, in my opinion, where you lose your money because of false advertisement or being lied to. In the OP the poster knew what was coming and she was simply bullied into it.

I swiped my card and nicely dressed younger guy
walked over to me asking if he could pump my gas, I told him no, but he
began to insist and made me uncomfortable enough that I gave in and
allowed him to pump the gas.

Alone at that point anyone with some common sense would have pushed the assistance needed button at the pump. And told the "nicely dressed young guy" to scram before the cops are called.

He pumped $40 in my tank and I thanked him
and asked that he replace the pump so I could leave. He refused. He
told me to move my car from in front of the pump.

Someone who would be lacking some common sense would have called for help, either by assistance button, cell phone or a plain "HELP!"

I noticed a turquoise Saturn with two
more men inside pull up behind me, and when the guy and I began to have
back and fourth dialogue, out of nowhere the Saturn ran into the back of
my van. When I still didn't move they hit my car 2 more times. At
this point I was could see a bad situation getting progressively worst.

What about looking at the Saturns license plate, trying to remember the info, running to the attendant, asking for him to call the cops? No?

Of course, one can simply panic and do all the things wrong, but... hey... it was in Detroit and one should be ever vigilant in there... After all, it's the US version of Mos Eisley, just without the aliens and spaceport.

Rob D.
Environmental Service Specialist II
Guild certified Specialist.

[notjustnebodee]

Thats why I always pre pay in cash.

I dont suppose she could report theft of that amount to her credit card company.


Notjustnebodee, CPhT
Certified Pharmacy Technician 0

hee hee

[AnglRdr]

Was the police department closed?

AnglRdr
DCE II

[rangerdog]

Couldn't she just yell HELP?

Rangerdog
IAM,CPL, CPM, Almost a CISSP
AANG

[AnglRdr]

Seriously, is there a more amusing place than this in all the interwebz?

[Keeper of the Mad Bunnies]

Well, there is a Speedway station on Jefferson at the I-375 (I-75 does not go into downtown). However, I don't recall hearing about any such incident occurring around here.

Also - I believe most pumps have an emergency cut off switch in case of spillage. Hitting that would ruin this particular crime, if you were stupid enough to fall for it in the first place.

James Powell

[annabohly]

Originally Posted by Keeper of the Mad Bunnies

Well, there is a Speedway station on Jefferson at the I-375 (I-75 does not go into downtown). However, I don't recall hearing about any such incident occurring around here.

Also - I believe most pumps have an emergency cut off switch in case of spillage. Hitting that would ruin this particular crime, if you were stupid enough to fall for it in the first place.

James Powell

Hey! You forgot your job title. You could make one up if you don't want to use your real one.

[Dr. Dave]

Originally Posted by snopes

Not all of us travel to Detroit or even close, but if this happens
there, it can happen other places as well. Just be aware!

Actually, fortunately, there are in fact some things that can happen only in Detroit.

Originally Posted by Keeper of the Mad Bunnies

Also - I believe most pumps have an emergency cut off switch in case of spillage. Hitting that would ruin this particular crime, if you were stupid enough to fall for it in the first place.

James Powell

Exactly. Or even hitting the end sale or cancel button while the guy refuses to replace the gas pump.

-Dr. Dave
Staff Clinician (= a guy who can get a tall coffee for $1.59 anywhere in town.)

[Keeper of the Mad Bunnies]

Originally Posted by Keeper of the Mad Bunnies
Well, there is a Speedway station on Jefferson at the I-375 (I-75 does not go into downtown). However, I don't recall hearing about any such incident occurring around here.

Also - I believe most pumps have an emergency cut off switch in case of spillage. Hitting that would ruin this particular crime, if you were stupid enough to fall for it in the first place.

James Powell

Originally Posted by annabohly

Hey! You forgot your job title. You could make one up if you don't want to use your real one.

James Powell
Agency Services - Customer Technical Support

[Penny]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave

Exactly. Or even hitting the end sale or cancel button while the guy refuses to replace the gas pump.

Well, but if the story's true, that would have left her at the mercy of a couple of angry guys who were willing to use a vehicle as a weapon.

Penny
Chief Software Destroyer

[Cervus]

Yesterday, I stopped at the Speedway on the I-75 service
drive and Jefferson to get gas. I took all the precautions I could,
making sure it was still daylight and choosing a gas station that was
PACKED with customers.

So...if she took "precautions" ahead of time, that indicates that she expected something like this to happen.

Cervus
Unemployed Starving Artist II

[effo5231]

Who in the world is willing to smash the front end of their car for a few gallons of gas? Bumpers are a lot more expensive than a fill up.

effo5231
Minister of Banking and Electronic Communication, Nigeria

[Buckle Up]

1. At some of the pumps I've used, when the gas stops flowing for a certain amount of time, doesn't the credit card transaction end, even if you haven't hung it up yet?

2. Why is it necessary for the guy to pump the gas for her? Why couldn't they just sit behind her in the Saturn and then run up to her when she's almost finished?

-Buckle Up
Edditor

[Arriah]

I think the point is that You Can Never Be Too Careful and Scam Artists Will Do Anything To Steal From You. Why do you sane people keep insisting on missing the point?

Rebecca
Student Grader and SAHM

*Yes, I did only post in this thread so I could sign it that way

[annabohly]

Originally Posted by Arriah

I think the point is that You Can Never Be Too Careful and Scam Artists Will Do Anything To Steal From You. Why do you sane people keep insisting on missing the point?

Rebecca
Student Grader and SAHM

*Yes, I did only post in this thread so I could sign it that way

post-padder.

[RobDBlackwolf]

I think we all are forgetting the most important thing:

Subject: Beware: This happened to a friend of a friend recently. True
story.

Not all of us travel to Detroit or even close, but if this happens
there, it can happen other places as well. Just be aware! Kathy

FYI, You may want to share this sad story with friends and family.

I am sending this email because I want everyone to be careful this
Holiday season. Yesterday, I stopped at the Speedway on the I-75 service
drive and Jefferson to get gas. I took all the precautions I could,
making sure it was still daylight and choosing a gas station that was
PACKED with customers. I swiped my card and nicely dressed younger guy
walked over to me asking if he could pump my gas, I told him no, but he
began to insist and made me uncomfortable enough that I gave him a warning that I carry
a can of mace and that I would use it on him, should he not leave me alone asap.
He continued to persist but soon left after he saw that I really had a can of mace
and that I was taking it out to spray him. I saw him hop into a Saturn and they left.
Remember, this is Detroit! Use your common sense and be prepared!

That simply makes for a boring email scam warning. There is no victim!

Rob D.
Health-care facility desinfection provider
Multi-role technician