Pump switching is a gas station scam where a suspect approaches a victim and offers to help pump their gas. When the victim tries to deny assistance, the suspect will often act aggressively and physically take control of the gas pump nozzle. After the victim leaves, the suspect will intentionally fail to return the nozzle to the pump in order to keep the transaction going. The scam artist then uses the active transaction to pump gas for other drivers, while demanding cash for gas. The victim is often unaware of the costly transaction until days or weeks after the incident happened. To protect themselves, police recommend that drivers hang up their own gas nozzle or hit "end transaction" on the pumps keypad. They also advise anyone who believes they are encountering "pump switching" to report it immediately from a safe location and call 911 so that officers can respond immediately.