Gas station scam today.

[blue steal]

I always worry about this as well. We were returning a car back and stopped in the station that I was told later was "no bueno". The attendant asked "fill" and I said $150 pesos only. Watched him reset the pump to zero and pump that amount, checked the gauge and it was correct, so guess I lucked out.

 

[ggunn]

20+ years ago a friend and I had that scam tried on us at a gas station about halfway back to Playa del Carmen from Chichen-Itza. What the scammer did not realize is that from my vantage point in the car I could see the numbers on the gas pump when he quickly zeroed it out and came to us and asked for three times that amount. We gave him what the pump said. He raised a stink and threatened to call the police. We told him to go ahead and call them, and we started up and drove away. Needless to say, no police appeared.

 

[BRT]

I always worry about this as well. We were returning a car back and stopped in the station that I was told later was "no bueno". The attendant asked "fill" and I said $150 pesos only. Watched him reset the pump to zero and pump that amount, checked the gauge and it was correct, so guess I lucked out.

Mexicans buy gas like that. We tend to want it filled which makes for opportunity to cheat.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

It is best to watch the pump dials. Make sure they are at zero before filling, then pay only the amount in pesos. Almost every time I buy gas they ask me to confirm zero before proceeding. I always buy at the Pemex at Juarez and 30th. Been here a long time, never been cheated by the attendant although sometimes i doubt the dials.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[BRT]

The nice lady at ISIS car rental always says to use the station at Juarez & 30th and not the one higher up because of the fraud.

 

[northernone]

The nice lady at ISIS car rental always says to use the station at Juarez & 30th and not the one higher up because of the fraud.

Good point. Yes, this one was the one higher up (90th perhaps?). 30th was closed for some construction.

 

[Christi]

Good point. Yes, this one was the one higher up (90th perhaps?). 30th was closed for some construction.

There is also one back at the end of the road past Sam's club and past the roundabout - I've never had a problem or attempted problem there.

 

[charlier]

It is best to watch the pump dials. Make sure they are at zero before filling, then pay only the amount in pesos. Almost every time I buy gas they ask me to confirm zero before proceeding. I always buy at the Pemex at Juarez and 30th. Been here a long time, never been cheated by the attendant although sometimes i doubt the dials.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

same same with Dave's experience. I watch the pump dial, make sure its zeroed out, and ask for a specific amount of petrol, or fill the tank to to xxpesos. Sometimes the dials are a bit off, but it is Mexico and its part of the experience. While I have no experience in Cozumel, I always use the same Pemex in Baja California Sur. Now we trade photographs of our family.

 

[admikar]

20+ years ago a friend and I had that scam tried on us at a gas station about halfway back to Playa del Carmen from Chichen-Itza. What the scammer did not realize is that from my vantage point in the car I could see the numbers on the gas pump when he quickly zeroed it out and came to us and asked for three times that amount. We gave him what the pump said. He raised a stink and threatened to call the police. We told him to go ahead and call them, and we started up and drove away. Needless to say, no police appeared.

I had similar experience once, not Mexico though, it was Italy. My simple solution was to say I will pay what the pump says.
Attendant response was: Oh, but I zeroed it!
My response: Oh, but I don't care!
Manager comes out, threatens: I will call police on you and you will go to jail!
My response: Do you want to use my phone? And while you're at it, please call Finanza to send team over here.
Manager response: OK, on second thought no need for police, pay what you think is fair amount.
For a second a wanted to play "what the pump says", but decided not to be a jerk and pay about correctly, since I knew how much gas was put in.

 

[Pelagicsal]

So, at which station did the OP's problem occur?