Officers on the California Division of Insurance coverage are warning Southland residents of a “car hostage” rip-off involving tow truck firms concentrating on motorists concerned in visitors accidents.
In a Tuesday news release, division officers mentioned the rip-off, which bilks drivers out of enormous sums of cash to get their automobiles again, has turn into rampant in Southern California.
“One of many scams on this case includes a tow truck displaying up instantly after a collision happens and providing to assist the motive force by towing their car to a physique store,” the discharge said. “Then the physique store forces the motive force to pay a big amount of cash sometimes not lined by your insurance coverage as a way to get your car again.”
In a sweeping investigation by CDI’s Inland Empire Car Insurance coverage Fraud Process Drive, 16 folks had been charged in an alleged conspiracy to create pretend insurance coverage claims that illegally collected almost $217,000.
Officers mentioned the identical ring were charged in similar scheme the place automobiles had been stolen underneath false pretenses and delivered to California Collision in San Bernardino.
Purple flags that drivers concerned in a visitors accident ought to pay attention to embrace:
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Tow vans that arrive moments after an accident, even when you haven’t referred to as
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Tow truck driver tells sufferer which physique store they’re automobile goes to
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Tow truck driver informs sufferer that somebody will name or asks for a signature
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Tow truck driver requests a experience share for the sufferer
Anybody who believes they might be a goal of this unlawful scheme is inspired to confirm the tow truck firm with their insurer or look ahead to California Freeway Patrol to substantiate that they dispatched the tow truck. Lastly, don’t signal any paperwork till the tow truck firm has been confirmed.
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“This kind of rip-off is preying on drivers at their most weak moments—instantly after an accident—when they need to be centered on their security and subsequent steps, not combating to get their car again,” Insurance coverage Commissioner Ricardo Lara mentioned. “Our division is dedicated to defending Californians from fraud.”
For extra info on methods to shield your self or to report suspected fraud, contact the California Division of Insurance coverage at 800-927-4357 or on-line at insurance.ca.gov.
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