Oil Slicks: Some Slick Gas Stations Dupe Long Islanders Out Of Thousands Of Dollars

If gas prices already have you fuming, now many of you may just overheat. Three Nassau County gas stations were recently charged with fraud for selling lower-grade gas out of their premium pumps, and charging the premium price.

The three gas stations, two located in Valley Stream and one in Franklin Square were brought up on charges after the Nassau Consumer Affairs Department conducted a test of gas octane levels at stations across the county. Once the department has limited their investigation to approximately 40or 50 stations, the district attorney’s investigators moved in, taking gas away from the pumps in sealed containers and then taking them back (to their offices) for testing.

They note that gas prices are already placing a financial “burden” on many. The three stations were charged with first-degree scheme to defraud, petit larceny and agricultural market law violations, and each facing a $25,000 fine. Plus, they could also be faced with up to $10,000 in Civil Penalties.

According to authorities, two of the three stations were overcharging by 20 cents a gallon, and the third by only 6 cents a gallon. And, after testing to ensure that it was not the suppliers who were mislabeling the gasoline, investigators determined that these stations also had prior violations. Yet, according to officials, while each was charged $3,000, they were not criminally charged and they said, they remain unsure as to how long they were selling mislabeled and misleading gas. But, they do know that each old about 50,000 gallons of mislabeled gas in just one month by adding an extra 20 cents per gallon, “robbing” consumers of $10,000.

Finally, authorities suggest protecting your gassets by buying from reputable gas companies. Plus, if you have any questions or concerns, you can call The Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Roger Bogstead, to inquire about any prior and/or outstanding violations or complaints.