Need some help: Service station runs credit card but never pumps fuel

[Chuck Denton]

Have an investigation where it appears that the gas station manager is running our fleet fuel card which a driver has furnished the card and pin but the fuel is not dispensed. Question how does the manager benifit from such a scam. has anyone had such a case

[SIW Editor]

Chuck, Is this a refund scam? Maybe he's running your card, then telling your driver it's been refunded to the card, but he's pocketing a cash refund out of the register? That's the only one I've come up with, not that I'm the genius on this. If you don't mind me asking, how do you know it's the station manager versus the station owner or just an hourly station attendant? As the station manager, it gets a bit murkier -- I think it would be obvious if it was station owner, but since he doesn't make the top or bottom line directly, that gets confusing.

I also recommend you contact one of our columnists who knows a great deal about the scams pulled on retail type businesses. She is Liz (at) RetailManagersGuide.com (separated to keep the bots off her email address--tell her I sent you). Good luck.

Geoff
SecurityInfoWatch.com

[Bill Warnock]

Chuck:
Contact your local law enforcement's fraud unit and give them as much information as possible. They will contact the proper state agency responsible for fuel despensing and calibration. Who knows, a criminal case may be developed and the folks responsible punished.
Make sure you contact Liz as Geoff suggests. A two pronged approach never hurts. Do it ASAP.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Curtis Baillie]

Chuck, Geoff is right. If there is no record of fuel being despensed but the card is being recorded by the system, it is most likely a refund (s) is being processed. Your monthly record of activity should be able distinguish between refunds or card attempts (where purchases were aborted). Could be someone just testing the system for future use. (Just waiting to see if someone will say something).

The biggest problems I've had with company fuel cards are mutiple purchases made within minutes of each other (bartering and filling up family vehicles) and after hour purchases.

I'm willing to look at a statement for you. Just email me - Curt at SecurityConsultingStrategies.com (as Geoff said, spam bots) and you can fax me a copy. All information is confidential.

BTW - Welcome to the site.

[SecTrainer]

Have an investigation where it appears that the gas station manager is running our fleet fuel card which a driver has furnished the card and pin but the fuel is not dispensed. Question how does the manager benifit from such a scam. has anyone had such a case

Chuck, the proper people to contact is the fraud division of your gas card company. There are several ways this could be going down and they're the ones who've seen them all.

[Bill Warnock]

Chuck, the proper people to contact is the fraud division of your gas card company. There are several ways this could be going down and they're the ones who've seen them all.
SecTrainer, Chuck: The reason I suggested the local law enforcement agency be informed is due to a case recently where a member of the fraud division of a fuel company was in cohoots with two station owners that defrauded both the fuel company and its customers. The feds got involved and the bad employee skipped the Country. They hope to extradite the fellow but I would doubt it as the country in question never extradites their citizens back to the US for any reason to include murder.
That may not be true in Chuck's case, but why take chances.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[SecTrainer]

Probably a good reason, Bill. However, in my experience, LE agencies are usually fairly disinterested in credit card cases, probably because they know the card companies investigate these things. Also, we don't seem to have any demonstrated loss here, at least at this point, which would further diminish any interest of most LE agencies.

Nevertheless, a report on file probably wouldn't hurt.

[N. A. Corbier]

Financial crimes play a funny cycle, especially when there's no obvious sign of loss. I would say both Bill and SecTrainer are correct: Request a report from the local law enforcement agency, and give the security department of the the gas company's financial institution backing the card the report number.

[Chuck Denton]

Thank you for the suggestion I will let you know how it works out