Tyre Puncture Scam ALERT! How You Can Avoid INR 6,500 Worth Of Trouble

There’s a new scam in town targeting vehicle owners across various Indian cities. Referred by many on social media as the tyre puncture scam, this fraudulent activity has been observed at various ‘free air’ filling stations stationed at petrol pumps, causing a huge loss to motorists who are usually aloof about vehicle maintenance processes. 

Mostly witnessed in Pune and other metropolitan settlements around the country, the tyre puncture scam claims several motorists commuting on four and two-wheelers. Victims usually end up in tricky situations and are forced to cough up as much as INR 6,500 to get out of the situation. The local authorities are aloof from this ongoing scam and no action has been taken so far to put a stop to this. 

But what happens in a tyre puncture scam?

As part of the scam, the air pressure machine attendant at the free air filling stations deliberately brings up a low tyre pressure situation, pointing at a possible puncture. While some operators use a soapy water solution to point out a puncture, others quietly damage the valve with a blade, thus causing a real puncture. 

Once the attendant gets a go-ahead from the owner for a fix, efforts are made to show that the tyre has suffered multiple punctures and hence, requires a special sealant liquid to patch the tyre and bring it back to operating conditions. The sealant bottle is usually sold at INR 1,600 per unit and once the affected tyre is “fixed”, the attendant insists on checking all other tyres of the vehicle. A false alarm of more punctures is raised and before you know it, multiple bottles of the liquid sealant are applied, thus generating a hefty bill. 

In case of a damaged valve, the puncture repair person sells the valves at higher prices and charges an exorbitant amount to get it fixed. In many cases, the damaged valve isn’t replaced, which leads to frequent deflation. The scam is usually observed on vehicles equipped with modern tubeless tyres. 

Harsh Raj, an IT specialist with a reputed firm who fell victim to the scam, says, “They charge around INR 1,500-2,000 per tyre. They usually look for vehicles with outside number plates or brand-new vehicles that have relatively lower tyre pressure. They have a technique to measure pressure incorrectly or even use a tampered instrument. They show that the pressure is low. Since the tyres are tubeless, it is often difficult to notice.”

“Then they use soapy water and produce foam in the gaps by some means, even if there is no puncture. They do this 2-3 times and repair the non-existent puncture 1-2 times, then tell that there are too many punctures and suggest to add sealant, which costs a substantial amount,” he adds.

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How to avoid the tyre puncture scam?

“Stay away from shady air stations and undertake your tyre maintenance measures at a trusted tyre repair shop,” says Harsh. 

While that is one way to go, there are several other measures you can undertake to keep yourself and your vehicle safe from such scamsters. 

- It is always suggested to invest in a portable air pressure monitor gadget and check tyre pressures periodically. A personal air pressure monitor gives you total control over the tyre maintenance procedure of your vehicle. If your vehicle is equipped with a digital tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), the process becomes a lot easier. 

- In case you need to get your vehicle tyre checked after a suspected puncture or low-pressure warning, we highly recommend getting down from the vehicle and keeping a close eye while the air-filling station attendant undoes the valve and attaches the air pressure pipe. Ensure that you have a good view of what the person's hands are doing to the valve. 

- In case you suspect something fishy, it is always wise to ask the attendant to fill up the pressure and drive to another nearby air-filling station. 

- Avoid giving attendants a go-ahead for applying sealant solutions. Most punctures on tubeless tyres can be fixed with a simple rubber material. For tube tyres, it is usually recommended to replace the tube entirely instead of getting it fixed. 

- In case of multiple punctures, get the tyre checked at a tyre maintenance and service shop (usually the ones who sell new tyres) and take advice on whether it is safe to use after repairs. In extreme cases, a new tyre is usually recommended for safe driving. 

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