Unveiling the Intricacies of the UK's Notorious CB Fuel Fraud Scandal
In the early 1980s, a daring and sophisticated fuel theft scam swept across the UK, targeting petrol pumps with digital controls. This intriguing tale, which was largely unrecognized and unaddressed at the time, has recently been brought to light by Ringway Manchester in a new video.
The scam revolved around the manipulation of petrol pumps using CB radios equipped with high-power and illegal linear amplifiers, known as "burners." The CB radios were commonly used in the UK during this period, with both 27 MHz and 934 MHz bands in circulation. However, it's the 27 MHz band that appears to have been used for tampering with petrol pumps.
The scam worked by transmitting a powerful RF signal that interfered with the pulses from the flowmeter on the dispenser. As a result, the dispensing rate on the digital control display appeared slower than the actual pump speed, allowing more fuel to be dispensed than what was reported to the cashier.
Authorities, including Scotland Yard, investigated the scam and found it to be plausible. However, the widespread illegal use of CB radios during this period made it challenging to curb the problem.
Modern petrol pumps may have been hardened against attacks similar to the CB radio fuel theft scam. Yet, it's advisable to examine them for potential weaknesses, but without disclosing the source of the information.
It's uncertain if the same trick would have worked in the United States due to differences in CB radio technology. Nonetheless, the CB radio fuel theft scam serves as a reminder of the innovative ways criminals can exploit technology for illegal activities.
Read also:
- Munich Airport Unveils Its New Electrical Vehicle Charging Parksite
- Clean Energy Facilities by Constellation Offer Close-to-Impeccable Summer Stability, Reinforced by $7 Billion in Capital Infusions Over the Past 10 Years
- Vehicle electrification and bidirectional charging technologies could potentially reduce EU energy expenses by a staggering €22 billion annually by the year 2040.
- Automobile manufacturer IM Motors reveals an extended-range powertrain akin to installing an internal combustion engine in a Tesla Model Y.
