Four men have been arrested after allegedly meddling with fuel pumps to drastically lower the price, with officials warning that such crimes will continue as petrol costs continue to climb.
The fraudsters are accused of installing sophisticated “pulsators” inside forecourt pumps that manage price and fuel flow, with the hacking device then reducing the cost per litre to pennies.
It is believed that the offenders pulled off the of the scheme at separate Circle K stations in Lakeland and Lutz in Florida, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) stated.
Officers said that both Rogelio Llerena and Yulier Garcia-Martinez were apprehended on Saturday, March 12 as they filled up their tanks in Lakeland, the Mirror reports.
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.
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