A Nebraska woman allegedly found a lucrative quirk at a gas station pump — double-swipe the rewards card and get free gas!
Unfortunately for her, you can’t do that, prosecutors said. The 45-year-old woman was arrested on March 6 and faces felony theft charges, accusing her of a crime that cost the gas station nearly $28,000.
Prosecutors say the woman exploited the system over several months. Police learned of the problem in October when the loss-prevention manager at Bosselman Enterprises reported that the company’s Pump & Pantry in Lincoln had been scammed.
Fuel pumps at the station received a software update in November 2022 that managed, among other things, rewards cards. However, the company was unaware of a glitch that allowed anyone swiping a rewards card twice to put a gas pump into demonstration mode. In demo mode, the user could pump gas at no cost.
A probable cause statement from prosecutors said the loss-prevention manager determined that one particular card had been used repeatedly to obtain free gas. Police traced the card to the suspect, and video surveillance showed the woman pumping gas multiple times from November 2022 until June 1, when the glitch was fixed, the statement said.
Authorities believe the woman not only used the scam to get free gas, but allowed another woman to use her card — for a fee.
The probable cause statement said the other woman told police that she paid to use the card for “discounted fuel.” Authorities believe the woman paid Thompson $500 for gas purchases that should have cost about $700.
The card was used 510 times, and more than 7,400 gallons (33,641 litres) of gas were pumped for free, the probable cause statement said.
The suspect is free on bond and has a court hearing on April 11. A phone message was left Tuesday with her attorney.
banner image: The Associated Press
