Fleet Managers Warn More Must Be Done To Combat Fuel Fraud

UK fleet managers see fuel related fraud as a mojor problem for their business but recognises that they need to do more if significant cost savings are to be unlocked.

New, independent research from Shell reveals that almost two thirds of fleet managers (65%) in the UK now see fuel related fraud as a major issue for their business[1]. However, 48% recognise they need to do more to tackle the issue if they are to unlock fuel cost savings of over 5%. Interestingly, 14% acknowledge that tightening their practices could generate even bigger fuel cost savings for their business, of 10% or more.

The findings are part of the inaugural Fraud Matters, which spoke to fleet managers and drivers in eight countries across the globe, including the UK. And, as well as casting fresh light on the scale of concern among the nation’s fleet managers, the report reveals that over a third of drivers (34%) agree that fraud is now a serious issue for their industry.

What’s more, 26% of drivers admit to actually witnessing a colleague behave fraudulently at work – with fuel siphoning highlighted as a common example. Other costly criminal practices identified by managers and drivers include drivers paying for fuel with cash to hide the purchase of additional items, card cloning and account hacking.

Scott McGregor, Sales Manager at Shell UK Commercial Fleet says:

“Commissioning this new research has given us an even clearer picture of the nature of fuel related fraud – as told by fleet managers and drivers themselves. Because fuel is such a valuable resource, it will always attract criminal behaviour and as a global fuel card provider, it’s Shell’s job to help our customers protect themselves. That’s why we recommend every fleet or road haulage operator establishes a full set of tactics for defending their business against fraud and, ultimately, reducing its impact on their bottom line.”

Key among these additional protection measures according to fleet managers is driver education, with 37% of fleet managers stating that a lack of driver education stops them from improving how effectively they detect fraud. Yet even so, a lack of time and resources means just 28% currently offer fraud prevention training for staff.  Consequently, while 61% of fleet managers claim to be aware of the latest anti-fraud solutions, just 30% of drivers feel similarly up-to-speed.

He adds: “One of the biggest problems businesses have in combatting fraud is that too often the latest guidance and information doesn’t make its way from the office to the driver’s seat. Online card monitoring, real-time detection and pre-set fill-up limits can be very effective in reducing criminal behaviour. But to really win the battle, businesses must also invest the necessary time and resources into training staff on how to be smarter about fraud protection on the ground.”

To help businesses stay ahead in the fight against fraud, Shell offers a series of tailored solutions. These include:

-Shell Card Online – a web-based management system that provides access to every transaction made with a Shell fuel card registered to the account. Reports can detail where, when and by whom a card has been used and allow users to set maximum fill-up volumes and receive personalised email alerts based on specific criteria, such as a fuel card being used outside business hours or a maximum volume being exceeded in a single transaction.

-Real Time Detection (RTD) – Shell’s fraud detection technology can identify criminal behaviour in a matter of seconds. Based on the same system that banks use to detect credit card fraud, RTD filters the 260 million annual Shell fuel card transactions based on specific payment parameters. It then flags suspicious activity to account holders in real time.

-Dedicated fraud experts – Shell’s fraud case managers and analysts use advanced software to monitor every single payment made with a Shell fuel card globally. This ensures they can quickly detect and react to any suspected fraudulent activity on a particular account.