A Miami man was arrested June 25 for running a diesel fuel scam using a specially equipped pickup truck.
How it worked: 56-year-old Orlando Pardo Ortega used a Ram 5500 truck fitted with a big fuel bladder to buy huge amounts of diesel from local gas stations. He paid with contactless payments on his cellphone, often using different credit cards linked to a Hong Kong bank.
- On April 25, Ortega filled up with over 110 gallons at a Wawa in Doral, then bought another 218 gallons at a different Wawa nearby.
- Wawa’s loss prevention team said Ortega used the same card for $2,689 worth of fuel at their stations.
- On May 13, he tried to use six more cards across 12 transactions at a RaceTrac station, but every swipe was declined.
The aftermath: Police say Ortega resold the diesel, likely to local trucking companies, at prices lower than the normal rate, according to CBS Miami.
He's facing several charges, including grand theft, fraud, and stealing fuel using a modified truck.