I came across a new "gas scam"

Posted on: July 7, 2025 at 14:55:50 CT

I was on the highway and taking an interchange to get on a different highway. As I was going around the corner of the interchange, someone was parked on the inside shoulder and waiving me down. I stopped and got out to help. He came over saying he was out of gas and didn't have a gas can. I told him I could go grab him one from my home a few minutes away at which point he started spouting stuff about needing some gas money and offered me some gold ring as collateral.

I just told him I would go ahead to the gas station and send someone to help him and just left. I have seen similar scams before at gas stations but never had seen someone parked on the shoulder of a busy highway waiving people down to get help. I'm guessing these scams work or people wouldn't do it but I can't imagine how stupid you'd need to be to fall for it.

Edited by tgr at 15:14:59 on 07/07/25