Recklinghausen (dpa / lnw) - The police in Recklinghausen have uncovered a large-scale fraud with improperly obtained fuel cards. The eleven-member gang is said to have caused damage of more than 350,000 euros in well over 1000 cases since mid-2021, the police in Recklinghausen reported. On Sunday, 15 objects in 7 cities in the Ruhr area were searched by a large number of emergency services. Among other things, a sharp pistol, cash, knives, cell phones and laptops were seized.
According to the investigators, the suspects, aged between 18 and 44, shared the workload. They are said to have found customers via messenger services for refueling with the card, who then paid an amount to the group. "The cards were used at various gas stations in the Ruhr area," the investigators explained. The suspects were released on Sunday after the measures had been completed.
Police would not say how the gang got hold of the tickets. The searched properties are located in Herten, Recklinghausen, Dortmund, Oberhausen, Mülheim/Ruhr, Duisburg and Lünen. Because of the large number of fraudulent acts, an investigative commission called "Karte" is investigating at the police headquarters.
