Do you know what is the coup of the ghost bomb, which is being applied at gas stations? This is a trick some gas stations use to trick customers into charging for fuel that hasn't been delivered. This scam became famous after a video showing the fraud went viral on social media.
In this article, we will explain how the ghost bomb scam works, how to identify and avoid this abusive practice and what your rights are as a consumer if you are a victim of this situation.
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How does the ghost bomb scam work?
The scam of the ghost pump consists of making the fuel pump counter rotate normally, but without liquid coming out of the nozzle. Thus, the customer pays for an amount of fuel that was not placed in the vehicle's tank.
An example of this coup was recorded in a video published by Douglas Rodrigues, 28 years old, who caught the fraud at a gas station located within a supermarket chain in the region of Goiás.
In the video, he asks the attendant to remove the nozzle from the car's nozzle with the trigger still pressed and shows that the counter continues to turn, but no fuel comes out of the beak.
According to Douglas, this was the third time that he was the victim of the scam at the same post and that he had already alerted the manager of the establishment on other occasions.
How to identify and avoid the scam?
To identify and avoid the ghost bomb scam, you need to be aware of some signs that may indicate possible fraud. Some of them are:
- Check if the pump counter is reset before starting the supply;
- Observe if there are any irregularities in the pump nozzle, such as holes, leaks or alterations;
- Be suspicious if the attendant takes a long time to start or finish filling up, or if she tries to distract the customer during the process;
- Ask to remove the nozzle from the car nozzle with the trigger still pressed and check for fuel output;
- Compare the amount paid with the amount of fuel indicated on the vehicle's dashboard.
What are the rights of the consumer if he is a victim of the scam?
If you are a victim of the ghost bomb scam at a gas station, you have rights guaranteed by the Consumer Protection Code (CDC). Some of them are:
- Demand the return of the amount unduly paid or the delivery of the correct amount of fuel;
- Denounce the establishment to Procon, the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) and the Civil Police;
- Claim compensation for moral and material damages, if any.
The case of the video that went viral is being investigated by Procon de Goiás and by the State Police Station for Repression of Crimes Against Consumers (Decon). According to the G1 portal, there are other fuel stations in the city that have also been reported for the practice and these will also be investigated.
So, be on the lookout for to fuel your vehicle and don't fall for the ghost bomb. Finally, if you suspect fraud, do not hesitate to report it and demand your rights.
