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Old 26th July 2023, 19:20   #1
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Petrol Pumps | Full tank scam and how to avoid

Got scammed with the similar tactic which has been discussed already in thread. What makes worse is despite reading about this kind of scam multiple times on this forum as well as youtube I still fell for it.

I stopped for refueling at BPCL on Hoskete road at Bangalore and asked for full tank. The attender stopped at 500 and said done. I again mentioned it's full tank and he said ok. Exactly at that time another attended came to me saying "I thought I20 only has petrol yours is diesel". I got distracted at that time and didn't notice whether attendant reset the meter to zero. Usually my tank capacity is 37 litres, auto cutoff happens at 35litres, so basically at current diesel price in Bangalore usually it is around 3100. But he charged me saying i had filled 500 at first and total was 3659. I tried arguing with them but all of sudden they where only speaking in Kannada. Earlier they were speaking in Hindi. There was no way I could have argued at that time, on top of that the vehicles behind were honking constantly. I tried explaining to them but they were still honking. Later I realised that for 3659 I would get 41 litres which would be impossible for my fuel tank. I could have tried proving using that logic but it was too late. This shows that no matter how much we are aware in crucial moments we do loose our logical thinking.

This is the fuel pump https://goo.gl/maps/2V4m7R6MhVEVdGFt9 and notice the reviews, it is filled with similar complaints.
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Old 26th July 2023, 20:33   #2
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Got scammed with the similar tactic which has been discussed already in thread. What makes worse is despite reading about this kind of scam multiple times on this forum as well as Youtube I still fell for it.

I stopped for refueling at BPCL on Hoskete road at Bangalore and asked for full tank. The attender stopped at 500 and said done. I again mentioned it's full tank and he said ok. Exactly at that time another attended came to me saying "I thought I20 only has petrol yours is diesel". I got distracted at that time and didn't notice whether attendant reset the meter to zero. Usually my tank capacity is 37 litres, auto cutoff happens at 35litres, so basically at current diesel price in Bangalore usually it is around 3100. But he charged me saying i had filled 500 at first and total was 3659.

Really sad to see this state, oldest trick. You should have asked to meet the manager over there and request them to show the meter. There is usually a computer inside from which they can monitor and display all the entries from that particular pump.

Petrol Pumps | Full tank scam and how to avoid-pump-log.png

I have seen it in Chennai, and definitely, it should be in Bangalore too. You can email BP with the timing, and if you have the invoice, it will be easier for them to track it with the exact time and date.

https://www.bharatpetroleum.in/enquiry-fuel.aspx

Do raise a complaint using the link provided. Gone are the days when you could just let go of being scammed and accept it as part of the network. Nowadays, all fuel transactions are recorded in the computer, and they are liable to provide evidence if you follow the proper procedure.

- Having a few pictures of the spot with your car and those scammers, along with the invoice might help move faster. I hope you have those available.

Last edited by raptor_diwan : 26th July 2023 at 20:36.
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Old 26th July 2023, 20:56   #3
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by raptor_diwan View Post
https://www.bharatpetroleum.in/enquiry-fuel.aspx.

- Having a few pictures of the spot with your car and those scammers, along with the invoice might help move faster. I hope you have those available.
Thanks for the link. I have the invoice but do not have the pics of the spot. But I will raise a complaint and see how it goes. Going by the reviews looks like everyday someone is getting scammed at that particular pump. Will have to play my part in bringing this to notice
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Old 26th July 2023, 21:01   #4
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Thanks for the link. I have the invoice but do not have the pics of the spot. But I will raise a complaint and see how it goes. Going by the reviews looks like everyday someone is getting scammed at that particular pump. Will have to play my part in bringing this to notice
Make sure to attach the links to those reviews in the "Remarks" column of the complaint. Let's see how seriously BP takes malpractice complaints. Also, elaborate on the tank capacity logic on it along with entire incident!
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Old 26th July 2023, 22:08   #5
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Thanks for the link. I have the invoice but do not have the pics of the spot. But I will raise a complaint and see how it goes. Going by the reviews looks like everyday someone is getting scammed at that particular pump. Will have to play my part in bringing this to notice
If you are in Twitter, please tweet this incident. Oil companies are quite active there and will ask you to provide your details. They will get a responsible person call you and provide resolution.
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Old 5th September 2023, 12:46   #6
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

One way to avoid this Rs 500 scam trick is to tell, fuel attendant to do a Auto Cut fill up.

So the eventual figure would always be odd and nozzle is locked. Payment by card Tap to pay and card machines are synced to pump; so shows exact figure in paisa as well. Reliance Jio-BP is always like this.

Preferred Fuel pumps in order
1. Reliance now called Jio-BP
2. BPCL
3. HPCL
4. Indian Oil

Always avoid Nayara Energy (erstwhile Essar Oil which was known for scamming customers).

Lastly users facing lower FE could be due to rise in Ethanol content in petrol. Its now E12 all across and would be E20 by 01 April 2025 Pan India.

Only petrol devoid of Ethanol is Indian Oil XP100 at Rs 160/litre.
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Old 5th September 2023, 15:38   #7
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by el lobo 6061 View Post
One way to avoid this Rs 500 scam trick is to tell, fuel attendant to do a Auto Cut fill up.
This is another issue. Despite we asking them to fill for 500, 2000 or full tank, the attendant will say he heard 400 or 500 and stops at that. I have gone near to his ear and once screamed full tank till cut off, and still he had no shame in stopping at 500 or 600 and telling me his concentration was elsewhere and he couldn't listen to what I told! The level these guys go couldn't be any lower.

Quote:
Originally Posted by el lobo 6061 View Post
Only petrol devoid of Ethanol is Indian Oil XP100 at Rs 160/litre.
As confirmed previously over this thread, Indian Oil had confirmed to me that XP100 has 10% ethanol. This was a few months back. This value would have gone upto 12% by now, I assume.

Petrol Pumps | Full tank scam and how to avoid-io.jpg

Last edited by Xaos636 : 5th September 2023 at 15:40.
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Old 5th September 2023, 15:50   #8
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaos636 View Post
This is another issue. Despite we asking them to fill for 500, 2000 or full tank, the attendant will say he heard 400 or 500 and stops at that. I have gone near to his ear and once screamed full tank till cut off, and still he had no shame in stopping at 500 or 600 and telling me his concentration was elsewhere and he couldn't listen to what I told! The level these guys go couldn't be any lower.
Attachment 2499528
Absolutely correct. You can say whatever you want they will still pretend to hear something else.
I had shared by experience with scam in BPCL few posts earlier in this thread. I again visited the same pump two weeks back just for my personal ego satisfaction. I said "tank full" and as expected the guy stopped at 500. I didn't utter a single word and was pretending to look at phone and few seconds passed by. So the guy proceeded to remove the pump meanwhile the partner in crime "the distractor" who was standing nearby said 'full tank na sir'. I nodded my head and he pretended to shout at the guy "full tank ra 500 kadu, full tank" and immediately turned towards me asking whether I wanted to scan the QR code or card. I immediately countered them by saying 500 only no full tank and gave 500 note and proceeded to leave. The looks on their faces were priceless. The guy with scanner tried saying "No sir, I heard full tank sir, you said full tank sir". I said nope 500 only

Last edited by Revvatron : 5th September 2023 at 15:51.
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Old 5th September 2023, 17:09   #9
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Got scammed with the similar tactic which has been discussed already in thread. What makes worse is despite reading about this kind of scam multiple times on this forum as well as Youtube I still fell for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Absolutely correct. You can say whatever you want they will still pretend to hear something else.
I had shared by experience with scam in BPCL few posts earlier in this thread. I again visited the same pump two weeks back just for my personal ego satisfaction.
Another thing I observed in both of my visits is the guy pointed out that there is no air in the tyres. In my first visit he pointed out at the tyre shape saying look sir how the tyre is compressed. I countered saying that's how it should be. In my second visit same thing, sir your tyre is out of air looks like there is a puncture , we have a puncture guy and pointed me towards the free air point where the guy was filling up tyres.
Is this another type of scam where they try to get non-existent puncture fixed and charge you for it?
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Old 5th September 2023, 21:04   #10
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
I immediately countered them by saying 500 only no full tank and gave 500 note and proceeded to leave. The looks on their faces were priceless.
I too started doing this after I fell for a similar scam at the ICOL pump beside Miyapur metro station. If they stop filling, I pay up and leave. They magically remember the correct amount the moment you pull up your wallet to pay. As you said, the look on their faces does leave one grinning ear to ear. No arguments, no dramas. The fuel station which tried to pull this off on me will remain in my blacklist forever!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Another thing I observed in both of my visits is the guy pointed out that there is no air in the tyres.
Was this the IOCL CoCo bunk beside lemon tree in Madhapur by any chance? They usually try to fill air and say that the valve is kaput and will charge around INR 80 to change the same. I almost fell for it once.
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Old 5th September 2023, 22:06   #11
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

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Originally Posted by furyrider View Post
Was this the IOCL CoCo bunk beside lemon tree in Madhapur by any chance? They usually try to fill air and say that the valve is kaput and will charge around INR 80 to change the same. I almost fell for it once.
No, this is BPCL in Bangalore. I did got air topped up from IOCl, lemon tree but didn't face any such issue. Although I only took two wheeler over there.

Last edited by Gannu_1 : 16th September 2023 at 12:29. Reason: Fixing broken quote.
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Old 6th September 2023, 17:06   #12
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

I also almost got scammed with this trick, but luckily escaped since I had read about this on our forum. I was traveling from Bangalore to Hindupur and usually I fill up at Nayara pump just before entering Andhra Pradesh since the fuel prices are a lot more in AP.

I told the attendant full tank petrol and some other staff came to me asking if I'm paying by card or cash. When I told him upi, he pulled out his phone and opened the QR code, meanwhile, the attendant filled petrol for Rs.400 and stopped. The QR code guy shouted at him saying "sir asked for full tank why did you fill for 400". At that point I jolted to reality and smelled that these guys are trying to scam me. So, I said yes full tank, but didn't turn my eyes off from the fuel pump when the attendant continued his filling without resetting to zero. Since they were aware that I had my eyes fixed on the meter, they didn't dare to ask me Rs.400 + latest amount. But, it left a bad taste and I have to be always on alert if I fill up at this place.
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Old 15th September 2023, 15:59   #13
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

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Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Got scammed with the similar tactic which has been discussed already in thread. .
Guys I have positive update to share on the post I made about getting scammed in bpcl near hoskote. They accepted the mistake and refunded the amount.

Quote:
Originally Posted by raptor_diwan View Post
Attachment 2481738

I have seen it in Chennai, and definitely, it should be in Bangalore too. You can email BP with the timing, and if you have the invoice, it will be easier for them to track it with the exact time and date.

https://www.bharatpetroleum.in/enquiry-fuel.aspx

Do raise a complaint using the link provided.
Thanks for this link and suggestion @raptor_diwan, if not for this I wouldn't have followed it up.And you were right about the dispense record, that is what solved the issue. So below is my experience throughout the process
  • I raised the complaint through the link shared in the above post on 29th July, the incident happened on 24th July.After couple of days I received a call from BPCL asking me for details about the location like pump name and area. After I gave the details the person said he will transfer the case to the pump dealership.Few months passed and I forgot about the complain I raised. Couple of days back received a call from a guy and he introduced himself as supervisor who works there. He asked me for car details, date and time so that they can check cctv footage. I forwarded them the details over email and later through whatsapp.
  • Today morning I got message on whatsapp from the supervisor saying they only have month old cctv footage and the incident took place in July so they can't trace it. At this point I just replied "ok" and thought I will take it up with BPCL customer care rather than dealership.Immediately he replied back on his own mentioning that not to worry about footage as he will go through the dispense records and since I provided date,time and amount he can trace it.
  • After few mins he sent me the screenshot of the record where the amount is mentioned as 3069 where as I was charged 3569 through card payment(hence 500 scam).He also shared screenshot of the payment I made to confirm the card details. He admitted the mistake and apologized and sent me the refund amount
    Petrol Pumps | Full tank scam and how to avoid-whatsapp-image-20230915-3.25.53-pm.jpeg
I asked what action they will be taking for which he replied that they will give warning, provide better training to them. Throughout our conversation he always talked in apologetic tone and kept saying we are sorry for the incident please keep visiting us etc., I was really satisfied with how the supervisor interacted and instead of coming up with issues he himself suggested ways to identify the scam.
I just have one question, I always thought since it is online transaction how would the attendants skim the extra amount. But as per the record it is charged 3069 but card swipe was 3569. At point do they interfere during this process, I thought online transactions would directly go to the account.

Last edited by Revvatron : 15th September 2023 at 16:03. Reason: grammar correction
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Old 16th September 2023, 12:07   #14
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvatron View Post
Guys I have positive update to share on the post I made about getting scammed in bpcl near hoskote. They accepted the mistake and refunded the amount.

Thanks for this link and suggestion @raptor_diwan, if not for this I wouldn't have followed it up.And you were right about the dispense record, that is what solved the issue. So below is my experience throughout the process

Today morning I got message on whatsapp from the supervisor saying they only have month old cctv footage and the incident took place in July so they can't trace it. At this point I just replied "ok" and thought I will take it up with BPCL customer care rather than dealership.Immediately he replied back on his own mentioning that not to worry about footage as he will go through the dispense records and since I provided date,time and amount he can trace it.
After few mins he sent me the screenshot of the record where the amount is mentioned as 3069 where as I was charged 3569 through card payment(hence 500 scam).He also shared screenshot of the payment I made to confirm the card details. He admitted the mistake and apologized and sent me the refund amount
That's fantastic, my friend! You could have resolved this situation just as I mentioned earlier. All you had to do was to ask to meet with the supervisor then & there and politely request them to display the meter. There's no need for CCTV; they will promptly refund your money. This outdated scam no longer works, and if you have any suspicions, we can simply ask them to display the meter in the main room, usually located in the supervisor's office. This way, we can easily address any concerns. I'm delighted that you were able to recover your money!
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Old 16th September 2023, 17:21   #15
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Re: Petrol Pump scams

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Originally Posted by raptor_diwan View Post
That's fantastic, my friend! You could have resolved this situation just as I mentioned earlier. All you had to do was to ask to meet with the supervisor then & there and politely request them to display the meter. There's no need for CCTV; they will promptly refund your money. This outdated scam no longer works, and if you have any suspicions, we can simply ask them to display the meter in the main room, usually located in the supervisor's office. This way, we can easily address any concerns. I'm delighted that you were able to recover your money!
At that moment the office was locked. I assumed maybe it was lunch time as it was at 1 in afternoon. But you are absolutely right, it is very easy to prove this scam
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