Fuel card fraud comes in various forms, both external and internal. Knowing these risks can help you take the right precautions.
External Fuel Card Misuse
- Skimming: Card readers are manipulated to steal data and PINs.
- Card Theft: Cards and PINs left in vehicles become easy targets.
- Card Swapping: Stolen cards are swapped with ones in vehicles.
- Identity Theft: Fraudsters apply for cards using your company’s name.
- Postal Theft: Cards and PINs are stolen or copied in transit.
- Phishing: Clicking on fake email links exposes sensitive data.
Internal Fuel Card Misuse
- Fueling Other Vehicles: Cards are used for non-company vehicles.
- Multiple Pump Billing: One card is used to fuel several vehicles.
- Fake Billing: Unused fuel is charged, and money pocketed.
- Card Duplication: Employees copy cards for cash.
- Overfueling: Extra fuel is used privately or sold.
How to Protect Against Misuse
Affinity and DKV have taken card security very seriously for a long time, investing significantly over the years in security processes and technology. As a result, we have been able to minimize losses due to card theft and misuse
Here are key steps to stay ahead of fuel card misuse:
- Never leave your card unattended in vehicles.
- Keep cards in sight; don’t let station staff take them elsewhere.
- Check card readers for tampering.
- Never share or write down your PIN.
- Set daily, weekly, and monthly card limits.
- Enable notifications for suspicious activity.
- Report and block stolen or misused cards immediately.
- In the case of theft – the user should have the fuel card blocked immediately and report it at the nearest police station.
- Use tools like DKV LIVE to monitor and prevent fraud.
By staying vigilant and following these steps, you can safeguard your fuel cards effectively.