Fuel Card Fraud in NZ: How to Spot It and What to Do
Fuel card fraud usually looks ordinary. A card gets left in a vehicle, shared between drivers, or kept by someone after they finish up. If you think a card is being used without your permission, ring us on 0800 111 391. We’ll suspend it and go through the transactions with you. At NZ Fuel Cards we also run alerts that email you when something unusual happens on a card, usually within minutes.
What should you do if a card goes missing?
Tell us straight away. Ring 0800 111 391 or email us, and we’ll cancel the card and send a replacement. You can also suspend it yourself in the NZ Fuel Cards app.
A fuel card is effectively a line of credit for use at a service station or truckstop. If you lose a card, you’re liable for the fuel or items bought on it. The same applies if you give it to someone and they use it. So tell us early.
Why can’t someone just tap a stolen fuel card?
They can’t tap it at all. There’s no contactless payment in the fuel card system and no chip. The card gets swiped and the PIN goes in every time. PIN security is standard on every card we issue, so a card on its own won’t buy fuel.
How would you know if a card was being misused?
You don’t have to go looking. Our eAlert system emails you when a transaction matches one of your rules. There are 10:
- Exceed 80% Card Limit
- Exceed Monthly Card Limit
- Multiple Daily Transactions
- After Hour Use
- Transaction Not at a BP Truckstop
- Transaction Not at a Z or Caltex Truckstop
- Multiple Fuel Types
- Non-Fuel Transactions
- Exceed 80% of Fuel Account Credit Limit
- Exceed 100% of Fuel Account Credit Limit
eAlerts come set up with a new account. If you’d rather not have them, you can opt out through customer service. After Hour Use is the one worth checking. The window has to match how your vehicles actually run. One customer caught a staff member filling a personal vehicle at an unmanned site at night, because the After Hour Use alert flagged it. If you want more detail on limits and reporting, we cover it in how to control fuel card spend.
Frequently asked questions about fuel card fraud
Can my employer see what I buy on a fuel card?
Yes. Every transaction is recorded against the card, the vehicle, the site, the date and the amount, and it appears on your invoice.
Do I have to turn eAlerts on?
No. They come set up with a new account. Ring 0800 111 391 to change which ones you get, or to opt out.
Can I suspend a card myself?
Yes. The NZ Fuel Cards app lets you suspend, cancel or reactivate a card and change the PIN from your phone.
If you’d like this kind of visibility across your fleet, you can apply online or talk to the team on 0800 111 391.