# Corporate fuel card fraud prevention

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

**Author:** Camila Ribeiro — Field Operations Editor  
**Reviewed by:** Marina Costa — Brazilian Tax & Compliance Specialist  
**Published:** 2026-08-09  
**Updated:** 2026-08-09  
**Last reviewed:** 2026-08-09  
**URL:** https://quilometragem.com/blog/corporate-fuel-card-fraud-prevention

**TL;DR:** Corporate fuel card fraud is under-reported because mínimal controls make diversion low-risk. Six technical controls and a 12-signal monthly audit eliminate most losses.

- Refueling in personal vehicle and volume diversion are the two most common schemes.
- Per-plate control + odometer eliminates both main fraud vectors.
- 12 alert signals that the monthly audit must verify.
- Driver labor liability requires objective documentary proof.
- Monthly audit checklist available for download.

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.

## Frequently asked questions

### 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.

## Sources

- [CNT - Relatorio de perdas operacionais em frotas: combustivel e fraudes 2024](https://www.cnt.org.br/pesquisa-custos-operacionais) — Confederação Nacional do Transporte (2026-07-20)
- [ANP - Resolução 41/2013: obrigações dos postos revendedores varejistas](https://www.gov.br/anp/pt-br/assuntos/distribuição-e-revenda/revenda-de-combustiveis) — Agencia Nacional do Petroleo, Gas Natural e Biocombustiveis (2026-07-20)