This is one of those “don’t try this at home stories.” In the latest scheme to get out of paying the rising costs for diesel, two Florida truckers thought they found a fool-proof way of driving off with more than they paid for. Why is it that “fool-proof” invariably attracts fools?
The two unnamed scammers were trying their hand at a scam that is becoming more and more common all across the country. Without going in to too much detail on how exactly it works, it happens when truckers damage the device that the pump uses to detect how much fuel is flowing through it.
The device, called a pulsar, is sometimes even removed and temporarily replaced by a device of their own. This method is usually harder to detect because subsequent customers will get charged the normal amount, whereas if the pulsar is simply damaged instead of being replaced, everyone who visits that pump afterward will also receive the steep discount.
This usually takes a long time for a business to discover, but the scammers got greedy and apparently stole over $30,000 worth of fuel from one gas station alone. The theft was reported and police were alerted to the scam. Less than a week after the investigation started, the scammers came back to the same station where an officer recognized the suspicious behavior and arrested them. The suspects face four felony counts each. Two grand larceny charges, and two charges for tampering with fuel pumps. Each. That’s a lot of jail time.
Next story: Police Chase Semi Truck Driver Accused of Stealing Hundreds
Source: Fleetowner
carl says
geez, i didn’t even know you could do that. i assumed the measuring device was deep in the pump assembly. good thing i didn’t know about this in my younger, irresponsible youth.
NavigatorWife says
Scams I imagine have been going on everytime the price goes up on fuel or gas. Some are more ingenious than others it appears.
WellStar01 says
With the rising cost of diesel, owner operators face an uphill climb trying to protect profits. Using high quality synthetic oil and lubricants can improve MPG and reduce the number of oil changes needed per year saving you thousands in maintenance fees yearly.
This story is just another example of how the economy is hurting the transportation industry.