Fuel Card Fraud Case in Efremov: A Two-Month Scam Unfolds
In Efremov, a town in the Tula region, authorities reported that a man found a fuel card at a local enterprise and used it to sell more than 17,000 liters of diesel to unidentified buyers. The incident was disclosed through the Telegram channel run by the regional judicial system’s joint press service.
According to the account, on the evening of June 30, 2023, the defendant visited a gas station and approached a driver he did not know. He suggested buying diesel fuel, and the driver agreed. The driver filled 500 liters into his vehicle, paid using the fuel card presented by the aggressor, and returned with cash for the transaction. This pattern continued as the same scheme was applied by the fuel card owner to move nearly 17.3 thousand liters of fuel, totaling 918,000 rubles, over a period of two months, from June 30 to August 28.
When the loss was eventually detected and the perpetrator was detained, he fully reimbursed the recovery amount. For the theft, a court imposed a fine of 200,000 rubles.
The report also notes a separate case where a fraudster in Karelia deceived two car owners who were delivering their vehicles for repair at the same time, highlighting a pattern of premeditated exploitation of service and fuel transactions.
These events underscore the risks linked to compromised payment instruments and the importance of immediate verification when unusual fuel purchases or card activity is observed. Enterprises are reminded to enforce strict card-handling procedures, monitor for suspicious interactions at gas stations, and ensure that all transactions are traceable to legitimate customers. Law enforcement continues to encourage reporting any irregular activity to prevent further losses and to support investigations that protect consumers and businesses alike.