Petrol Pumps in Maharashtra to Stop Accepting UPI, Card Payments from May 10 Amid Cyber Fraud Concerns
Starting May 10, petrol pumps across Maharashtra are expected to stop accepting UPI, card, and other digital payments due to a surge in cyber fraud incidents. The move could disrupt the everyday convenience of cashless fuel transactions for lakhs of consumers across the state.
Petrol pump owners, especially from regions like Vidarbha and Nashik, have raised alarm over increasing cybercrime where fraudsters use hacked cards or net banking details to pay for fuel. These payments are often reversed once fraud is reported, leaving pump operators with significant financial losses. In several cases, operators’ bank accounts have even been frozen, further impacting operations.
The Vidarbha Petroleum Dealers Association and Nashik Petrol Pump Dealers Association have taken the lead in initiating this move. Their concerns are echoed by the Federation of All Maharashtra Petroleum Dealers Association. Amit Gupta, president of the federation, confirmed that digital transactions will not resume unless the government provides a firm assurance of corrective action and protection against cyber fraud.
According to Vijay Thakare, president of the Nashik association, multiple complaints have been received from pump owners affected by such frauds. The association maintains that until strict cyber fraud countermeasures are in place, digital payment acceptance will remain suspended.
This coordinated action could potentially influence petrol pumps in other parts of India as well. The state government has been formally informed, but no immediate response has been issued yet. With consumer inconvenience on one hand and dealer vulnerability on the other, the situation underscores the urgent need for a robust cybersecurity framework in India’s digital payment ecosystem.
