A widely circulated video on social media has triggered fresh concerns over a growing cyber fraud targeting unsuspecting consumers at petrol pumps in India. The clip, originally posted by a user and now viewed over 7 million times, features a warning from a man urging people not to use credit cards at fuel stations, citing a recent case where over ₹1 lakh was fraudulently siphoned from a bank account following a routine transaction.
Cybersecurity experts and law enforcement have confirmed that such scams typically involve card skimming, a method by which criminals use hidden devices to capture card information from point-of-sale (POS) terminals, particularly at high-traffic or low-surveillance areas such as petrol pumps.
How Card Skimming Works & Why Fuel Stations Are High-Risk?
According to a cybersecurity advisor of the Uttar Pradesh Police, card skimming involves using small, often unnoticeable devices called skimmers, which are discreetly attached to ATMs or POS terminals. When a user swipes or inserts their card, the skimmer records sensitive data like the card number and expiry date. In more sophisticated operations, fake keypads or miniature cameras are also installed to capture PINs.
This data is later used to clone cards or conduct unauthorised online transactions. Notably, petrol pumps are among the most vulnerable locations for such attacks due to limited surveillance and easy access to open POS devices.
What Users Can Do to Stay Safe?
Experts recommend several steps to safeguard against such fraud:
Inspect POS machines before swiping.
Use RFID-blocking wallets or card sleeves to prevent remote skimming from contactless cards.
Disable international transactions unless necessary.
Monitor bank statements regularly for unauthorised charges.
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In the event of suspected fraud, victims are advised to immediately:
Block their card via the bank’s helpline or mobile app.
Report the unauthorised transaction and request a chargeback.
File a complaint on the cybercrime.gov.in portal or at the nearest police station.
Experts further add that many scams now originate from e-skimming where malicious links or spoofed websites are used to steal card information online making digital literacy more critical than ever.