Akumal Tip #026 - Pemex Scam #1

Released on September 25th, 2006 by Tortuga.
Akumal tips: Mexico-smart tips.

This series of Akumal tips will cover the various scams that the gas station attendants at the Pemex — Mexico’s only gas station chain — will try to get away with to put a few extra dollars in their pocket. If you don’t watch it, if you don’t pay attention, you’ll end up paying more than you should for your tank of gas, and these gas station attendants seem to pride themselves on whether they can trick an unsuspecting tourist.

The number 1 Pemex scam

This is the number one Pemex scam. You request a certain peso amount or you have asked “llenalo”, which means “fill it up” in Spanish. The attendant will probably ask you which type of gasoline you want, the standard “Magna” or premium. He then takes the nozzle from the pump, places it in your tank, depresses the lever, and the gas starts flowing. What you didn’t notice, however, is that before you drove up, he preset the pump for 50 pesos. When he gases up your vehicle, the pump starts running from the 50 peso amount. In other words, the final amount for your gas tab will include that 50 peso amount he keyed into the pump, even though you didn’t receive any gas for that amount. It’s the number one scam of the unscrupulous Pemex gas station attendants.

Start from square zero

The solution against this standard Pemex scam is to make sure the attendant zeros out the pump. There is a lever on the side of the pump that he flips. Any peso amount displayed on the pump will then clear out and display zero. This requires when you pull up in your vehicle to beat him to the punch by getting out of your car so that you can stand near the pump and watch what is going on. Don’t let him come to your window, block you in while he asks how much gas you want, and then start pumping. Give yourself a chance to get out of your vehicle and read the display before he starts pumping. Before he starts pumping, the peso amount on the display should read zero. That’s an absolute must. If it doesn’t, call him on it.

You’ve just got past the number one Pemex scam of not zeroing out the pump. But stay alert. The gas station attendant wants to supplement his day’s pay and he has a few more tricks up his sleeve.

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2 comments.

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Susan wrote:

Comment on March 4th, 2007.

I have another scam for you. We stopped for gas in Valladoid after visiting Chitzen Itza. The two types of gas pumps (premium & regular) were joined together. The Pemex attended filled our little Attos (or clown car as my husband called it) with regular gas and when he was done he immediately set the pump back to zero. He then pointed to the amount on the premium pump and said we owed him 380 pesos. I knew that couldn’t be right because after I calculated how many liters are in a gallon (0.26) that would have been about 18-19 gallons in a car that held at the most 10. I also saw him turn the right pump back to 0. I think because I was in the car he figured I wasn’t watching and my husband was busy checking the oil. I got out of the car and tried to tell him in my lousy Spanish that I saw what he did. He completely ignored me and kept asking my husband for money. Just then I saw a police car drive by so I started to wave him down. The attendant stopped me and told us just to go. My husband was still trying to pay him something but he just wanted us to go. By this time the police officer had circled back, so we just decided to get out of there. So, that is just another trick that you need to watch out for. After that experience, anytime we stopped for gas we both got out of the car and watched the attendant like a hawk and had no further trouble. This was the only bad experience we had with the people of the Yucatan. Everyone else couldn’t have been any more hospitable and friendly. I guess there is always one bad apple somewhere.

Tortuga said:

Comment on March 5th, 2007.

Just like yours Susan, almost all of the Pemex scams can be foiled by two simple steps:

(1) Always step out of your car before talking with the attendant and watch the pump like a hawk. Even if a second Pemex attendant tries to get your attention, don’t look away, stay focused on the pump.

(2) Count your pesos before you pay the attendant and count any change he gives back. Some of the Pemex scams require the attendant confusing you with the amount your pesos. Know how much you paid him and make sure your change adds up, too.

If you keep your eyes on the pump and always count your cash, it will be very difficult for a Pemex attendant to pull off a successful scam.

Susan, you are right, the Yucatan people are a very hospitable people. The one place you have to keep your eye out for scammers, though, is at the Pemex stations. Unfortunately, there is more than one bad apple at these places.

(PS Sad to say, if a Pemex attendant is overly friendly with you, that is reason enough to be suspicious of him. He is more than likely trying to get your guard down so he can pull off a scam.)

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