The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a warning to filling station attendants who have developed a tendency of duping motorists when they are refueling vehicles.

The warning comes after the commission received information alleging that some filling station attendants were deliberately manipulating the pumps so that they discharge less fuel than that ordered by the motorists.

According to a statement released on Tuesday and signed by CFTC Executive Director, Charlotte Malonda, the attendants do not reset the pump at zero before discharging fuel to motorists which results into less fuel being discharged into the succeeding vehicles.

“This amounts to deceptive conduct which is a clear infringement of the Competition and Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Protection Act,” reads the statement in part.

It further says Section 43(1)(d) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act makes it an offence for any person to engage in conduct that is likely to mislead the public as to the nature, price, availability, characteristics, suitability for a given purpose, quantity or quality of any products or service.

Yvonnie Sundu, a Lilongwe resident, suspects to have been duped at a certain Puma Filling Station in Lilongwe early July, this year when she went to refuel her vehicle.

She said as she was driving within town, she noticed a fuel light on her dashboard indicating that the car had run out of fuel, she then immediately decided to go to the nearest filling station.

“I rushed to Kaunda Puma Filling Station and found a female fuel attendant. I told her to pump in fuel amounting to MK5, 000. I had things to sort out; hence my eyes were glued on my phone as I trusted her to do the job.

“After some minutes, she came to my window and told me she was done. I dished out the money from my purse and gave it to her before I drove off,” said.