http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-drivers-warned-of-staged-collision-scams-crackdown-planned-20130917,0,7582435.story
September 17, 2013
Video: http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=91002&sitesection=selatimes&VID=25170910
Drivers in Los Angeles County were warned this week to be on the
lookout for scam artists who stage collisions to collect insurance
money.
The so-called “swoop-and-squat” crashes, in which two vehicles work
together to force a rear-end collision, endanger motorists and lead to
millions of dollars in insurance rate increases each year, according to
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey.
Lacey joined California
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to announce nearly $7 million in grant
money to be earmarked for additional staff dedicated to cracking down
on the phony claims, KTLA-TV reported.
“Innocent drivers and their passengers are placed in harm’s way every
time one of these so-called ‘swoop-and-squat’ phony collisions occurs
on our streets and highways,” Lacey said.
Demonstrations were held at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Emergency Vehicle Operations Center in Granada Hills on how drivers are set up by the scam artists.
“Obvious signs are a situation where all of a sudden a witness
materializes whose story absolutely corroborates what driver has talked
about,” Jones said.
Officials offered tips on avoiding these situations and offered
advice on what to do if drivers suspect they are a victim of one of
these collisions.
“No. 1, insist on getting a police report. No. 2, talk to the peace
officer who responds to the scene and ask them to identify each of the
individuals ... purporting to be a witness, purporting to be a driver,
purporting to be a passenger,” Jones said.
Anyone with information about a suspicious collisions was urged to call (800) 927-HELP.
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