System and method for fraud detection by low flow rate monitoring at a fuel dispenser
A system and method of detecting fuel theft at a fuel dispenser. The system has a fluid flow meter, a pulser operatively coupled to said fluid flow meter, and a control system in electrical communication with the pulser. The control system is configured to calculate a flow rate of fuel being dispensed from a gasoline dispenser during a single dispensing transaction. The flow rate is sampled at predetermined time intervals during the single dispensing transaction. The system then compares the sampled flow rates to a predetermined flow rate pattern indicative of potential fraud. A shutoff signal is then provided to the dispenser to stop fuel flow through the dispenser if the sampled flow rates are substantially similar to the predetermined pattern.
1. A fuel dispenser comprising:
a fluid flow meter;
a pulser operatively coupled to said fluid flow meter;
a control system in electrical communication with said pulser; and
wherein said control system:
calculates a flow rate of fuel being dispensed via pulser signals produced by said pulser;
periodically samples said flow rate as determined from the pulser signals to provide sampled flow rate readings;
compares said sampled flow rate readings to a predetermined flow criterion, and
shuts off flow of fuel if at least two of said sampled flow rate readings satisfy a predetermined pattern when compared with said predetermined flow criterion.
2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined flow criterion is a predetermined flow range.
3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined flow rate range is between approximately 0.5 and 2 gallons per minute.
4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said control system begins sampling said flow rate at a predetermined time after dispensing has begun.
5. The fuel dispenser of claim 2 , wherein said pattern occurs when said sampled flow rate readings fall within said predetermined flow rate range a preset number of times during a single dispensing transaction.
6. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 , wherein said preset number is at least ten.
7. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 , wherein said control system shuts off flow if said sampled flow rate readings fall within said predetermined flow rate range at least ten consecutive times during a single dispensing transaction.
8. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined pattern includes the flow rate approximately equaling zero a preset number of times during a single dispensing transaction.
9. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the pattern includes the flow rate approximately equaling zero a preset number of consecutive times during a single dispensing transaction.