The €5 Petrol scam: How a tiny favour at the pump could cost you €150

It seems innocent at first. You are in a hurry and heading out on vacation when a stranger leans forward with a polite grin. ‘Could you put five euros on your card for me? I will give you the money now. It sounds like nothing – a neighbourly gesture, a quick favour.

Many drivers in Spain are unaware that this seemingly harmless exchange is at the heart of a clever, new scam that has spread to petrol stations all over the country. What about those five Euros? They could end up draining your bank account of more than €150 before you’ve even driven out of the forecourt.

The scam as it plays out

This is how it works. The scammer approaches you while you’re paying for your own fuel, asking if you’ll also cover a small amount for their car – usually just €5. The scammer will give you a crisp, new note right on the spot.

After you have driven off, the trick begins. The pump is not reset properly. Your card is still logged in the system, meaning the scammer can carry on filling their tank – not for €5, but often right up to €150 or more. The scammer has already left by the time you see the transaction in your account.

Why petrol stations make the ideal hunting grounds

This scam has become very popular because it makes use of two very simple factors: trust and speed. The petrol stations are busy in the summer, when Spain’s highways are crowded with tourists. The people are in a hurry, distracted and don’t pay attention to what is happening at the gas pump.

And the genius – if you can call it that – of the scam is that it doesn’t feel like a scam at all. It appears that one driver is doing another a favor. Scammers rely on this instinctive desire to help.

The same scam has been spreading in France, and now Spanish petrol stations have also issued warnings. Some consumer groups have even described it as the ‘holiday scam of the summer,’ with drivers particularly vulnerable during long road trips.

Avoid becoming the next victim

Police and petrol station employees are both blunt: don’t do this. Never agree to fuel your card on behalf of a stranger, no matter how nice or convincing they may seem.

If you absolutely felt compelled to help – say, in a genuine emergency – you’d need to check the pump yourself, make sure the amount is reset, and keep your eyes glued to the screen until the transaction finishes. But let’s be honest: when you’re standing in the heat, with cars lined up behind you and a stranger insisting it’s ‘just a fiver’, how realistic is that?

Saying no is the best option. It might feel awkward in the moment, but it’s a lot less awkward than discovering a €150 hole in your bank account later.

If you are a victim? Inform your bank immediately and make a police complaint. The sooner you take action, the greater your chances of recovering money.

Watch out for petrol station scams

This is not the first scam that has targeted drivers. Since years, scammers have sent out fake parking fines and traffic tickets via text message. This new scam is different, because it’s done face-to-face and in an environment where you don’t expect danger.

It’s because of this that it works. You’re not thinking of being scammed in the middle a busy motorway services station. You are thinking about getting snacks for your kids, a good stretch, or making it before sunset to the beach.

And that’s what makes the ‘€5 scam’ so effective. It does not rely on hacking or technology. It relies on human kindness – and turning it into a payday.

Don’t be surprised if you end up paying a lot of money for someone asking you to do a simple favour.