Suspected QR-code tampering at petrol stations in Rajasthan’s Pali district highlights a wider threat of cyber scams exploiting cashless fuel payment systems, prompting calls for enhanced security measures.
A suspected QR-code fraud at petrol pumps in Rajasthan’s Pali district has prompted dealers to warn of a wider cyber scam targeting cashless fuel payments. According to TV9 Hindi, a masked man is alleged to have visited multiple filling stations late at night, tampered with the authorised QR codes and replaced them with his own, diverting customer payments into another account.
The Pali Petroleum Dealers Association says the activity has been reported at about 78 petrol pumps so far, with an initial estimate of ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 moved to a different account. The association also said bank details suggested cash had been withdrawn from an ATM in the Rani area, and that it had shared the suspect’s mobile number and identification documents with the police superintendent.
The case reflects a broader pattern seen elsewhere in India. Reports have described fraudsters swapping legitimate QR stickers at shops and fuel stations with their own codes to capture digital payments, while an investigation in Uttar Pradesh last year led to arrests in a multi-state racket. Other recent cases have shown how petrol pump fraud is becoming more varied, from fake payment apps to cloned confirmation screens.
In Pali, the dealers’ body has urged operators and staff to check QR codes regularly at night, preserve CCTV footage if anything looks suspicious and alert police immediately. It has also asked authorities to move quickly against the suspect and tighten safeguards around digital payments at fuel stations, saying the convenience of QR-based transactions must not come at the cost of security.
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