A new study by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) reveals that fuel station fraud remains alarmingly high — with roughly one in four stations in Athens and Thessaloniki found to be cheating customers at the pump. The research, conducted across 200 fuel stations in March and April, was presented today at an event hosted by the Hellenic Union of Petroleum Companies (SEEPPE).
Declining but Persistent Fraud
The study found that 23.1% of inspected stations engaged in illegal practices — a notable improvement compared to 33% in both 2024 and 2023, though slightly up from 20% in 2020. Meanwhile, the overall shortfall in fuel deliveries — i.e., the gap between what’s billed and what’s actually dispensed — stood at 15% this year, down from 17–24% over the previous four years.
Shift in Fraud Patterns
Researchers noted a significant shift in the distribution of discrepancies: while minor deviations (1–2%) increased, cases exceeding 2% dropped sharply. This suggests a move toward more subtle, harder-to-detect manipulation rather than large-scale tampering.
Regulatory Impact and Industry Response
The petroleum trade association welcomed ongoing cooperation with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), citing dozens of station closures in recent years as evidence of enforcement effectiveness. SEEPPE also reiterated its call to abolish the fuel price cap, arguing that falling fuel prices no longer justify the measure.