California Department of Insurance, Vehicle hostage scams

16 arrested in alleged auto insurance fraud scheme; officials warn of ‘vehicle hostage’ scams
A probe into auto insurance fraud across Southern California has led to arrests of 16 people involved in an alleged scheme that preyed on car accident victims in the Inland Empire, and has prompted the California Department of Insurance to warn drivers about tow truck companies holding vehicles hostage for cash.
Vehicle hostage scams on the rise in Southern California, officials warn: What you need to know
The investigation began in November 2022 when it was discovered that a California Highway Patrol employee, Rosa Isela Santistevan, 56, of Irvine, was unlawfully selling traffic collision report face pages. This led to the identification of the fraud ring, which involved multiple individuals and entities across Southern California.
California Drivers Warned of Spike in Vehicle Hostage Scams
Authorities are warning California drivers about a rise in vehicle hostage scams, where scammers demand money to release towed or impounded cars. The scam has become prevalent in Southern California,
‘Rampant’ tow truck scam targeting Southern California drivers, officials say
Officials at the California Department of Insurance are warning Southland residents of a “vehicle hostage” scam involving tow truck companies targeting motorists involved in traffic accidents.
California drivers warned about predatory towing scam sweeping across state
They say that tow truck companies are targeting drivers involved in collisions, picking up their cars and then holding them hostage for large amounts of money.
State officials warn of predatory towing scam targeting drivers just in collisions
Lauren Pozen details a new scam targeting drivers who were just involved in crashes that need their cars towed and what you should do if the same thing happens to you.
Got into a car accident and a tow truck arrived immediately? It may be part of a scam
The scam involves your car being held "hostage" and you being forced to pay a large amount of money to get it back.
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It also reported drivers lying about injuries to claim on their car insurance and moped riders or couriers faking accidents to make claims. This is often referred to as a ‘cash-for-crash’ scam.