Fuel Card Fraud in Europe: What We Know — and Why Fleets Can’t Ignore It Anymore

Fuel is one of the highest operating costs for transport companies. But for many fleets across Europe, an even bigger threat is silently draining budgets: fuel-card fraud.

While fuel cards have long been considered a convenient payment solution, recent investigations reveal how vulnerable these systems still are. From cloned cards to skimming devices and PIN theft, fraud mechanisms are becoming more sophisticated — and the financial impact is growing.

Below is a breakdown of what we know today, based on real cases, legal reports, and confirmed investigations across Europe.

Criminal Networks Have Already Exploited Fuel-Card Systems

One of the most significant cases emerged in 2022, when a Europol-supported investigation led to the arrest of 11 suspects across Romania, Belgium, and Austria.

Authorities reported that the group had stolen at least €420,000 by:

• copying magnetic-stripe data

• stealing PIN codes

• creating cloned fuel cards

• making fraudulent refuelling transactions billed to legitimate operators

This was not a small-scale scam — it was organised, cross-border, and systematic, proving that fuel-card fraud is a scalable business for criminal groups.

Legal and Compliance Experts Warn: Fuel-Card Fraud Is Rising

According to legal firm Backhouse Jones, fuel card cloning is increasing, largely due to outdated card technologies and weak authentication systems.

The most common fraud methods include:

• cloning or copying magnetic stripes

• PIN theft and credential compromise

• misuse of stolen or duplicated cards for refuelling

In many cases, it is the transport companies, not the payment providers, who end up paying the financial cost.

Skimming Devices at Fuel Stations: A Persistent Weak Link

Industry reports confirm that many fuel-card fraud incidents originate at compromised pumps, where criminals install hidden devices that capture card and PIN data.

This typically happens at:

• unmanned stations

• poorly monitored fuel stops

• international freight corridors

Drivers swipe their card, enter a PIN, and unknowingly hand over all the information needed for criminals to create a cloned card. These devices often stay undetected for weeks.

Fuel-Card Fraud Continues in 2025

A recent 2025 prosecution in East Flanders uncovered a scheme where criminals used stolen or cloned fuel cards to secretly siphon diesel into hidden tanks and resell it on the black market.

Authorities noted that fuel-card abuse is now commonly tied to:

• organised crime

• fuel resale networks

• large-scale financial losses

This is not an isolated case — it reflects a broader, ongoing trend.

Fuel-Card Fraud Is Real, Costly, and Becoming More Sophisticated

Across Europe, the evidence is clear:

• Fuel-card cloning is well documented

• Skimming attacks are widespread

• Criminal groups actively target fleet fuel cards

• Fraudulent refuelling can reach six-figure losses

• Companies often absorb the financial damage

For an industry already challenged by rising fuel prices, sustainability regulations, and tight operating margins, preventable fraud is a cost fleets can no longer afford.

The Bottom Line

Traditional fuel cards are no longer enough.

To protect margins and operational integrity, fleets must shift toward secure, digital, tamper-proof fuelling solutions that eliminate fraud risks and provide real-time visibility.

Fuel-card fraud is not just a nuisance — it is an emerging financial threat.And the companies that act early will be the ones best protected.