Summary of Systematischer Heizölbetrug? Über 300 Liter zu wenig im Tank | stern TV

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

This section of an episode of German television program stern TV follows the story of a couple in Konigs

• 00:00:00 In this section, a couple in Königswinter suspects that they have fallen victim to heating oil fraud after noticing that their delivered amount was significantly less than what they had ordered. They had ordered 1600 liters of heating oil but found that they only received around 1500 liters. When they confronted the delivery driver, he admitted the mistake and added 150 liters more. However, even after this, the couple discovered that they were still missing around 180 liters of oil. They feel cheated and believe that the driver knowingly misled them. Additionally, a former oil delivery employee reveals that he has witnessed similar cases of fraud where customers were intentionally given less than what they paid for. He shows videos where drivers manipulate the delivery meter to deceive customers. The scale of this fraud is said to be substantial, with millions of euros going into the companies' pockets. This fraudulent practice has been known for over 15 years, according to an official from the regional measurement and calibration office.
• 00:05:00 In this section, it is revealed that there is a systematic fraud involving heating oil deliveries. The fraud involves using a garage door control device to simulate a delivery, causing the meter to count even when no oil is flowing. This allows the fraudsters to cheat customers out of over 300 liters of oil without them realizing it. The authorities are aware of this scam but have difficulty detecting it during their random inspections. The lack of calibrated meters in customers' tanks also poses challenges in proving the fraud. Legal action has been taken against a company accused of cheating customers in a court case, where the delivery driver himself admitted to the fraud. In another case, a couple orders heating oil online but discovers a significant shortage in their delivery. After leaving a negative review, they receive a call from the CEO offering a partial refund in exchange for a positive review. When questioned, the delivery driver admits to delivering less oil but claims ignorance about why. The investigation further reveals that the supplier, without properly checking the tank levels, delivers additional oil in subsequent deliveries to make up for the shortage.
• 00:10:00 In this section, a couple named Karin and her husband express their suspicion about a heating oil delivery that was significantly under-filled. They visit the company from which they ordered the oil, but are unable to speak with the owner. They are given a lawyer's phone number instead, and learn that the company is conducting internal investigations into similar incidents. An informant suggests that both the drivers and the company may be involved in the fraud, with the drivers pocketing a portion of the oil and the company covering the costs of any damages to the trucks. The local weights and measures authority advises customers to be vigilant when choosing a supplier and to monitor the delivery process closely. Although Karin and her husband eventually received the correct amount of oil, they are left with a lingering sense of unease about the situation and question the ethics of the company's practices.