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Investigation exposes alleged gas station fraud Ipiranga in Guarulhos: R$8 for oil change, faulty pumps and police called.
An unbelievable complaint has been filed with Procon in Guarulhos. A gas station with the Ipiranga brand allegedly charged an elderly woman, Dona Noêmia, R$8.000 for a simple oil change. The case, which appeared to be a scam, was not an isolated incident.
Other consumers also reported abusive practices at the same location. A monitoring team, including Procon and the Consumer Patrol, went to the station under investigation.
The complaint at Procon Guarulhos
Dona Noêmia, a 75-year-old woman, went to the Ipiranga gas station in Guarulhos just to fill up. She asked to have the oil checked. The oil change employees convinced her to perform a service. The final bill was R$8.000. Under pressure, she ended up paying the amount in four installments of R$2.000. When she realized that she might have been the victim of a scam, she returned to the gas station.
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The oil change manager, Renato, admitted the employees' mistake and promised to return R$3.000. However, he only returned R$1.500 and started to drag his feet. to pay the rest, even threatening her when she said she would seek her rights.
How Gas Station Fraud Works: The Oil Change Scam
The complaints indicate a pattern of action, configuring a gas station fraud . Oil change employees (a service outsourced within the station) serve customers, especially elderly or women. They claim non-existent or urgent mechanical problems. We use tactics such as throwing water on the hot engine to simulate smoke.
They pressured consumers to accept unnecessary or excessively high quantities of services and products (different oils, various additives, flushing). They charged exorbitant prices, often without providing a prior quote. It was difficult or impossible to issue a specific invoice.
Multiple victims, high losses
In addition to Dona Noêmia, other victims were deceived by the gas station. Andreia was charged R$4.750 for services on her Ford Ka. She was with a friend and a newborn baby in the car and got distracted. They even charged her for cleaning the injector nozzle, a service for which the authorized location does not have the tools.
Mr. Wilson, also elderly, worked to calibrate the tire of his Honda Fit. They simulated an oil leak and convinced him to perform services that totaled R$6.706. They listed 9 liters of transmission oil, an amount that would not fit in the car. Larissa's mother was another victim, paying R$1.278. Procon calculated that the products listed for Dona Noêmia would cost around R$911 on the market.
Inspection reveals more irregularities
During the inspection team's visit to the gas station, other problems were found. Tests carried out by IPEM on the gasoline and alcohol pumps revealed fraud in the amount of fuel delivered. The pumps provided between 1,4 and 1,6 liters less for every 20 liters, resulting in a loss of R$6 to R$7 for the consumer in this volume.
Misleading advertising was also identified in displayed prices. In the convenience store, several products had no price tag and the Consumer Protection Code was not available.
Confrontation at the gas station: manager in trouble, sealed bombs and police called
Renato, the oil change manager, was confronted by the victims and the inspectors. Initially, he tried to blame former employees who were “greedy for commissions.” He admitted to the abusive price charged to Dona Noêmia, but was reluctant to return the money in full. He made a PIX transfer of R$2.000 during the approach, using the account of the gas station’s cashier, Andrei, which raised more suspicions.
Given the evidence of fraud at the pumps and scams during oil changes (possible fraud and crime against consumers), the Civil Police were called. All of the gas station's fuel pumps were sealed by IPEM/Procon. Cashier Andrei was taken to the police station to provide clarification.
The importance of reporting gas station fraud
The report was contacted by the Ipiranga board of directors. The company reportedly stated that it was unaware of the practices of the franchised gas station and did not agree with them, saying that it would accept exceptions. Ipiranga also reported that it does not usually outsource oil change services. Cases like this highlight the importance of consumers being vigilant and reporting.
Any suspicion of abusive pricing, unnotified service or gas station fraud must be reported to Procon. Complaints help the inspection bodies (Procon, ANP, IPEM, Imetro) to act and protect other consumers.
