BBB of Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky is warning residents to be on the lookout for gas scams! With gas prices being so high, scam artists are really taking advantage of those struggling to stay on the road! BBB is hearing from local consumers who say they are receiving phone calls and postcards with opportunities for free gas. One local consumer says a person who called her, who claimed to be with Gold Coast International, told her she won a $30 gas voucher, but she had to pay a $3.90 fee to get it. The consumer gave the caller her personal information and quickly canceled everything when she thought more about the call.
Another local consumer received a postcard in the mail from FreebeeGas.com. The company has an unsatisfactory record with BBB. FreebeeGas.com offers the fulfillment of gas redemption certificates. In order to redeem your certificate you must enclose the postcard into a standard size envelope with a $5 check, money order, or certified check. Once the company receives the card, they’ll mail back an application form. That form must be returned to the company within 30 days with a self-addressed stamped envelope or a $2.50 money order for shipping. Once that is sent back to the company, they will send out a gas station selection form so consumers can choose a gas station. The gas station selection must be returned to the company within 30 days. The consumer must purchase $100 or more in gas each month at the gas station that was chosen, and must send back the monthly redemption tickets with proof of receipts in a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail the tickets no later than the first day of the following month in order to redeem the gift card.
Some businesses are also seeing an opportunity to make money by selling fuel boosting additives or offering engine modifications to help drivers conserve fuel. BBB is advising to stay away from these offers. Over the last decade, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tested more than 100 gas-saving devices and hasn’t identified any that significantly improve gas mileage. The EPA notes that the majority of “gas saving” products are harmless to vehicles, but testing has found some products can cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions, thereby increasing the chances of actual engine damage. BBB suggests a few steps all drivers can take to get the most out of their gas purchases:
- Stay within the speed limit. Gas mileage tends to decrease rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
- Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops. Drivers can improve gas mileage up to five percent around town if they avoid jerky starts and stops. This means accelerating slowly when starting from a dead stop and avoiding pushing the pedal down more than one-quarter of the way; this allows the carburetor to function at peak efficiency.
- Use overdrive gears and cruise controls. Cruise control and overdrive gears improve fuel economy when driving on the highway.
- Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.
- Keep the car properly maintained. The engine should be tuned, tires inflated and aligned, the oil changed on schedule and the air filters should be checked and replaced regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to 10 percent.