How to detect fuel card fraud?

The twelve audit signals: L/km well above vehicle history, volume close to full tank capacity, multiple refueling on same day, station outside usual route, off-hours transactions, and stations without NF-e.

Can the company hold the driver liable for fuel fraud?

Yes, with objective evidence. CLT Art. 482 provides for just-cause dismissal in proven dishonesty cases. Labor courts require: documentary proof, immediacy within 30 days of discovery, and proportionality.

Is a fleet card with odometer recording more secure?

Yes. Per-refueling odometer records create an additional verification layer: the system calculates L/km since the last refueling and alerts when it is outside the vehicle histórical pattern.

What are the fraud alert signals?

Besides anomalous L/km: late-night refueling, two refueling within 4 hours on same vehicle, 90%+ of tank capacity when tank started full, and transactions declined due to invalid plate.

How to conduct a fuel audit?

Reserve 2 hours monthly to review: (1) L/km per vehicle report; (2) off-hours transactions; (3) stations with unexpected frequency; (4) vehicles with rising fuel costs without km increase; and (5) drivers with atypical 3-month patterns.

Corporate fuel card fraud prevention

Camila Ribeiro — Field Operations Editor

Published: 8/9/2026 • Last reviewed: 8/9/2026 • 7 min read

The 5 most common types of corporate fuel card fraud and the technical controls that block them. Audit checklist for CFOs.

This article is available in full in Brazilian Portuguese. The 5 most common fuel card fraud schemes and the 6 technical controls that block them. 12-signal audit checklist for CFOs.