Below is a list of scam techniques practiced today by many criminals.
Paper Accident
When a criminal actively solicit others in the auto repair and salvage industry to participate in accidents that only exist on paper. Shady lawyers, doctors and insurance agents are normally part of this as well. The perpetrator will keep the claim lower than 1,000 dollars knowing that most insurance companies do not send investigators to examine a claim at that amount.
Hit & Run
When a perpetrator reports a factious hit and run to their insurance provider.
Swoop and Squat
When a perpetrator abruptly swoops in front of a car and quickly squats or stops. An accomplice moves to the side of the targeted victim to prevent the trapped car from swerving out of the way. The passengers of the squat car all report injuries that are supported later by a doctor or a chiropractor that are in the scam.
Sideswipe
A tactic used in multiple turn lanes at an intersection. A perpetrator will continue to take the multiple left turns until another car suddenly maneuvers into the lane in which the perpetrator suddenly speeds up to force a collision.
T-Bone
This is normally conducted with the absence of any hostile witnesses. The perpetrator waits at an intersection and intentionally rams into a car as it passes. When the police arrive, bogus witnesses are planted to tell the police officer that the victim ran a stop sign or red light.
Wave
A tactic normally conducted in heavy traffic, and when there is a merge. The perpetrator waves to the victim, pretending to yield the right of way. As the victim begins to merge, the perpetrator quickly accelerates to initiate contact. When the police arrive, the perpetrator denies ever giving up the right of way.
Shady Helper
This could happen after an honest accident. A stranger approaches you after an accident and offers numbers to an auto repair shop, lawyer or doctor. This could be a setup. The auto repair shop often pads your repair cost, and a doctor may give you shady treatment or none at all. A lawyer may even try to convince you to sue the insurance company.
Most scams are performed by professionals that run practice drills before actually committing the crime. They are normally very professional and skilled at their craft, but that does not mean you can not take steps from being victimized. Here are some measures that can be taken to shift the advantage to your side.
Keep a disposable camera, paper and pen in your glove department. After an accident, take unlimited pictures of every car including the passengers. Get as much information down on paper about every participant in the accident including witnesses. The pictures along with the note taking will leave little room for the perpetrators to lie about damage to their vehicle and persons after the fact. If you think an accident has been staged, get good details about the accident!
