5 Common "Scams" When Refueling Your Car at Gas Stations: Learn How They Work and How to Protect Yourself

5 Common “Scams” When Refueling Your Car at Gas Stations: Learn How They Work and How to Protect Yourself

Written by Andriely Medeiros de Araújo

Published on 24/09/2025 at 21:16

Veja os 5 golpes mais comuns ao abastecer carro em postos e aprenda como se proteger de fraudes que podem causar prejuízos e danos ao veículo. Imagem: Agência Brasil

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See The 5 Most Common Scams When Fueling Your Car At Gas Stations And Learn How To Protect Yourself From Frauds That Can Cause Losses And Damage To The Vehicle.

Fueling your car should be a quick and simple act, but it is increasingly surrounded by risks. Drivers all over Brazil have reported frauds at gas stations ranging from fuel adulteration to schemes involving manipulated pumps and unjust charges.

The alert became even greater after investigations by the São Paulo Public Ministry and the Federal Revenue Service revealed that even criminal factions, such as the PCC, may be behind illegal practices at gas stations.

But after all, what are the most common scams and how can you avoid them?

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Compressed Air Fraud: Pump That Deceives On The Display At Gas Stations

Instead of filling the tank with the indicated volume, some stations use adulterated pumps to inject air along with the fuel.

The driver pays for liters that never reached the car.

To escape this, it is essential to check if the pump is reset before fueling and to monitor the entire process outside the vehicle.

Suspicions should be reported immediately to Procon or Inmetro.

Fake Stations: Known Brand Facade

In many cities, criminals set up stations that mimic famous chains, painting facades with colors and logos similar to those of major distributors.

The low prices attract attention, but the gasoline is usually of very poor quality.

Consumers who encounter this type of fraud can contact the Legal Fuel Institute (ICL), responsible for overseeing and receiving complaints.

Forced Oil Change: Unnecessary Expense

Not all scams take place at the pump.

Some attendants recommend changing oil or filters when the car does not need maintenance.

The driver, often lacking technical information, ends up accepting and paying a high price for an unnecessary service.

To avoid falling into this practice, it is important to follow the vehicle manual’s recommendations and perform maintenance only at trusted workshops or gas stations.

Interrupted Fueling: Tank Does Not Fill To The End

Another trick is to stop fueling before the tank is full.

The driver pays the total amount displayed, but the car receives less fuel than it should.

One way to protect yourself is to ask the attendant to fill until the pump shuts off automatically and then check the car’s dashboard to confirm the tank level.

Higher Charge On The Card Machine: The Price Adjustment Scam

One of the most recent scams is simple but effective.

The price charged on the card is higher than that recorded at the pump.

Since many drivers do not verify the amounts before authorizing the payment, the fraud goes unnoticed.

The recommendation is to never leave without checking if the pump value is the same as the card machine or the invoice.

Attention Is The Best Protection

Although the scams when fueling vary in method and sophistication, they all share the common goal of deceiving consumers and illegally profiting.

Staying alert, avoiding suspicious establishments, demanding an invoice, and being wary of prices that are significantly below average are actions that greatly reduce risks.

When fueling the car, the driver needs to be as vigilant as on the road.

After all, falling for one of these scams can result in financial loss and even serious damage to the vehicle.

With information from Olhar Digital

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5 Common “Scams” When Refueling Your Car at Gas Stations: Learn How They Work and How to Protect Yourself

See The 5 Most Common Scams When Fueling Your Car At Gas Stations And Learn How To Protect Yourself From Frauds That Can Cause Losses And Damage To The Vehicle.

Compressed Air Fraud: Pump That Deceives On The Display At Gas Stations

Fake Stations: Known Brand Facade

Forced Oil Change: Unnecessary Expense

Interrupted Fueling: Tank Does Not Fill To The End

Higher Charge On The Card Machine: The Price Adjustment Scam

Attention Is The Best Protection

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5 Common “Scams” When Refueling Your Car at Gas Stations: Learn How They Work and How to Protect Yourself

See The 5 Most Common Scams When Fueling Your Car At Gas Stations And Learn How To Protect Yourself From Frauds That Can Cause Losses And Damage To The Vehicle.

Compressed Air Fraud: Pump That Deceives On The Display At Gas Stations

Fake Stations: Known Brand Facade

Forced Oil Change: Unnecessary Expense

Interrupted Fueling: Tank Does Not Fill To The End

Higher Charge On The Card Machine: The Price Adjustment Scam

Attention Is The Best Protection

A giant printer called the “Ferrari” of concrete has landed in Latin America and can already build a 120-square-meter house in just 48 hours, making the traditional construction site look like something from the last century.

Brazil will harvest a record crop of up to 357 million tons of grains, but it does not have the capacity to store a large part of it. The storage deficit has reached the highest level in history and is equivalent to almost the entire production of Argentina.

Four times faster than the Concorde, capable of taking passengers from New York to London in less than an hour at Mach 5.5, and with an engine that switches from turbojet to ramjet mid-flight at Mach 3.5, the Hermeus Quarterhorse went from paper to its first flight in just 19 months.

Under nearly 2 kilometers of ice in Antarctica, scientists have discovered an ancient landscape sculpted by rivers up to 60 million years ago, the size of Wales, preserved as a time capsule that could help predict the advance of ice towards the ocean.

She started by collecting oyster shells from restaurants and today she has already accumulated more than 10 tons to restore reefs, recover coastal habitats, and demonstrate how a common waste can become a tool for ocean conservation.

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