Fraudsters pretend to be oil giants: how not to lose money when buying fuel

      A new fraudulent scheme is gaining momentum in Russia, targeting both businesses and ordinary motorists. Criminals are actively sending fictitious commercial offers for the sale of gasoline to legal entities. To lull the vigilance of their victims, they pose as suppliers from leading oil companies in the country. The main lure to attract attention is a price below the market rate, which is intended to entice entrepreneurs to close deals without unnecessary checks.

      At the same time, the criminals are also operating in the segment of individuals. They create fake internet resources where citizens are promised the opportunity to purchase fuel without the usual queues and without using coupons. In both cases, the outcome is the same: money is transferred to the fraudsters, and the goods are not delivered.

      Experts recommend developing a habit of healthy skepticism when encountering offers for the sale of fuel. First and foremost, it is necessary to contact a representative directly at the oil company to find out whether the organization that sent the offer is indeed their active supplier. All incoming correspondence from unfamiliar addresses should be ignored—only verified communication channels should be used, and any information should be cross-checked through official websites.

      Sberbank has already recorded a positive effect from the attentiveness of clients: bank employees managed to prevent the theft of 18 million rubles from legal entities that were about to transfer money to criminals. The credit organization emphasizes that it is especially critical now to double-check all data regarding fuel sales through official channels. This applies not only to corporate clients but also to individuals who risk falling for the trick of fake websites.

      The main conclusion drawn by analysts is that any offer that deviates from the general market price level should raise suspicion rather than joy. Fraudsters are using the current situation in the fuel market as a backdrop for their activities, and the only reliable protection is a thorough verification of every document and every sender through official sources.