Senior News Line: Skimmer scams

Scammers are creative, you have to give them that. They come up with ways to steal from us that we’ve never thought about.

One new alleged scam involves a task we do frequently: pump gas into our car. This scam has the thief inserting a tiny screw into the cradle where the nozzle rests on the pump.

When you let go of the handle after pumping your gas and put it back in the cradle, it hasn’t really released. The machine thinks it’s still in the middle of a transaction.

The minute you drive away, a scammer can come along and continue pumping gas into his own vehicle, leaving you with the bill for it.

The good news? This scam is a hoax. While it’s all over the internet, it’s — apparently — not a real scam.

However, there are genuine scams involving sales anywhere you put your credit card into a machine.

Beware of the following:

• Credit card skimmers: Similar to what you’d look for at the ATM at your bank’s drive-up, these little gadgets can read your card information or steal your PIN. Do an online search for “How to spot a credit card skimmer.”

• People who just want to help: If you’ve finished pumping gas and someone approaches you saying they will put the handle back, don’t fall for it. This person won’t put the handle all the way back into the pump — similar to the screw scam — making the machine think it’s still an active transaction. When you drive off, they’ll fill their own vehicle.

• Self-checkout at the big box store: Before you start scanning your items, be sure there is nothing left on the screen from the previous customer. It’s possible for them to scan an item and leave the transaction unfinished, until you come along and include their item in your own purchase.

As always, be aware.