Four men have been accused of installing a device at fuel pumps which drops the price down to pennies, in what officials say is a trend which will only spread as petrol prices continue to rise.
The men are said to have installed sophisticated “pulsators” inside pumps that regulate price and fuel flow, with the device sending price per litre downwards meaning they can fill up at little cost.
The fraudsters allegedly pulled off the scheme at two separate Circle K stations in Lakeland and Lutz in Florida, according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Rogelio Llerena and Yulier Garcia-Martinez were arrested on Saturday, March 12 while they filled up in Lakeland, officers said.
Yordian Diaz-Benitez, of Tampa, was arrested at a Lutz station for stealing diesel fuel on Thursday, March 10.
Marlon Rosel-Rodriguez was arrested two days later for attempting to place the device inside a pump at the same station, police say.
Ned Bowman, president of the Florida Department of Agriculture, said skyrocketing gas costs have fraudsters making the most of the opportunity.
“These are criminal rings,” Bowman told New York Post. “I think you are going to see this expand.”
Mr Bowman added that fraudsters pull up to compromised pumps with large trucks containing oversize tanks and fill up on the cut-rate fuel before reselling it at a steep profit.
“It’s a big deal,” he added.
Law enforcement agencies have warned station owners to look out for trucks stopped at pumps for unusually long periods.
“With gas prices hitting record highs, fuel theft can further drive up costs for all consumers,” FDACS Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement.
