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A viral video has recently brought attention to a major financial scam that has left people shocked and concerned. The video, posted on Instagram by CA and finance influencer Sarthak Ahuja, highlights the dangers of using credit cards at petrol stations. He warns against a common scam that allegedly caused an Indian man to lose over Rs 1 lakh after his card was cloned at a fuel pump.
A Simple Fuel Stop Turned into a Nightmare
In his video, Sarthak Ahuja starts with a strong warning: “Don’t use your credit card to make payments at petrol pumps, and I will tell you exactly why.” He narrates the experience of a man who was traveling between cities when he stopped to refuel his car. Like most people, he handed over his credit card for payment and entered his PIN.
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However, things took a suspicious turn when the transaction was declined. The man tried again, but it failed once more. On the third attempt, the payment finally went through. At the time, he thought nothing of it, assuming it was just a technical issue.
What he didn’t realize was that he had never received a “transaction declined” message for the first two failed attempts. This should have been a red flag.
The Shocking Discovery
Weeks later, while he was asleep, the man’s credit card was charged for over Rs 1 lakh. An investigation revealed that his card had been cloned at the petrol station. Fraudsters had likely stolen his PIN during the failed transactions and later used the cloned card to make unauthorized purchases.
How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card Scams
In the video’s caption, Sarthak Ahuja shared some important safety tips to help people avoid falling victim to such scams:
1. Avoid Swiping Your Card at Petrol Pumps and ATMs
Sarthak strongly advised against swiping credit or debit cards at petrol stations, ATMs, or merchant stores—especially if the machine looks damaged or tampered with.
2. Use Safer Payment Methods
Instead of swiping, use touchless payment options like UPI or tap-and-pay. These methods are more secure and reduce the risk of card cloning.
3. Always Check for a ‘Transaction Declined’ SMS
If your payment fails, you should immediately check your registered mobile number for a “transaction declined” message. If you don’t receive one, your card may have been compromised.
4. Disable International Transactions on Your Card
Many fraudulent transactions occur in foreign countries using cloned cards. To prevent this, disable international payments unless you are traveling abroad.
Public Reaction and Personal Experiences
The video quickly gained massive traction online, amassing over three million views. In the comments, many social media users shared their own experiences with credit card fraud.
One user emphasized, “That’s why UPI is always safer.” Another person wrote, “Very knowledgeable.”
Some users even shared their own horror stories. A person recalled, “Happened a few months ago at Giani’s Rajouri Garden. Complained and got the money reversed in a month and a half. You never think something like this would happen to you until it does.”
Another user highlighted the risks of even tap payments, saying, “Even tap payments are a bit risky because people are able to copy the credit card NFC reading and place it on another card to use it for themselves.”
A different commenter shared a close call: “My card was skimmed, and international payments were attempted multiple times from Europe, the US, etc. Luckily, I had disabled international transactions when I landed in India, and my bank noticed the fraud. They sent me a replacement card immediately.”
