R500,000 fraud at the pump: Petrol attendant arrested by Hawks for cloning fuel cards
Hands holding a card machine A Mpumalanga petrol attendant is expected to appear in court after allegedly cloning fuel cards and siphoning almost R500,000 from customers.
Image: File/ Independent Media
A 34-year-old petrol attendant has been arrested in Mpumalanga for allegedly cloning fuel cards and siphoning nearly R500,000 from unsuspecting motorists.
The arrest followed a joint investigation by two banks’ card fraud investigators, a Truckstop Inn fuel station and the Hawks’ Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the suspect is alleged to have cloned fuel cards during transactions when motorists paid using petrol cards at the fuel station. Investigations by the financial institutions revealed that card users suffered an estimated loss of R469,000.
The Hawks were alerted to the suspected criminal activity and operationalised the information. Officers swooped on the fuel station on Friday, 12 December 2025, where the identified petrol attendant was searched.
A card-cloning device was allegedly found in his possession, leading to his immediate arrest.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Balfour Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 December 2025.
Mpumalanga Hawks provincial head, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the collaboration between the financial institutions, the fuel station and law enforcement.
“Our investigation is still in its infancy phase, and we believe that as it continues, more information will be uncovered. There is also a possibility that more people may be linked to the illegal activities,” Gerber said.
“This is a testament to the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing crime.”
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News