In abstract
As LA-area wildfires burned, some corporations fraudulently towed autos to the Inland Empire and charged 1000’s of {dollars} for his or her return, customers mentioned.
After the Eaton Hearth leveled greater than 9,400 buildings within the Altadena neighborhood in January, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger noticed a disturbing Fb submit titled “Eaton Fire Hall of Shame.”
An Altadena resident posted {that a} tow firm referred to as her husband in the course of the evening throughout the fireplace, claiming the town had licensed it to tow their automobile. Weeks later they realized the corporate had taken the automobile to Ontario and was demanding $3,000 to return it.
Different residents responded to the submit, recounting related scams.
Barger requested the residents to contact her if that they had suspicious experiences with tow corporations amid the wildfire, mentioned Helen Chavez Garcia, spokesperson for the supervisor’s workplace.
“She thought it was egregious that just one person experienced this,” Chavez Garcia mentioned. “As more information came to her office, we found out that there were more people affected by this.”
When Barger contacted the Inland Empire Auto Insurance coverage Fraud Job Drive, she realized the Eaton Hearth was simply the newest event when “bandit” tow corporations focused motorists, hauling vehicles to retailers in Riverside or San Bernardino counties after which holding them for ransoms of 1000’s of {dollars}.
“They did it before there was any perimeter set up, before the (California Highway Patrol) got there, while the fire was still going,” mentioned activity power supervisor Sgt. Regina Garay. “A lot of people have filed stolen car claims; tow companies just took them.”
Officers don’t know what number of vehicles had been fraudulently towed.
Final 12 months, the duty power — which incorporates the state Division of Insurance coverage, California Freeway Patrol and Riverside and San Bernardino County district attorneys — investigated and charged 16 folks accused of stealing cash, property or private info in related auto fraud incidents beginning in 2022. That alleged auto fraud ring made false insurance coverage claims for the towed autos totalling greater than $216,932, the Insurance coverage Division mentioned.
In these instances, unscrupulous tow truck operators responded to reported accidents, claiming to symbolize drivers’ insurance coverage corporations, the division mentioned.
“(Drivers) are already nervous, scared, maybe even hurt,” Garay mentioned. Tow corporations “would tow the car to a body shop and have them sign papers, offer them a ride home. And then they find the body shop is holding their car for ransom … for a large ransom.”
Investigators don’t have proof that the fraud ring instances had been linked to the Eaton Hearth incidents, Garay mentioned.
“It’s not that it has to do directly with the case, it just happens to be bandit tow companies,” she mentioned.
The state Insurance coverage Division cautioned drivers to search for sure crimson flags. Tow truck drivers could present up inside minutes of an accident, ask the driving force to signal paperwork after which take the automobile to a selected physique store slightly than requesting the driving force’s most well-liked store.
Anybody who suspects a tow firm just isn’t respectable ought to confirm it with their insurance coverage firm or look forward to the Freeway Patrol to substantiate it. Drivers shouldn’t signal any paperwork at an accident website with out contacting their insurance coverage firm.
Barger’s workplace mentioned some wildfire survivors are nonetheless making an attempt to get better their vehicles.
“I find it disgusting that these fraudulent tow operators exploited fire survivors during their time of distress,” Barger mentioned in an announcement. “Those behind this abhorrent scheme must be held accountable and brought to justice.”
