According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), drivers in Chicago and Houston were let down for thousands of dollars through unscrupulous crane drivers. The NICB has issued public service announcements and billboards warn drivers of the scam.
After a car accident, tricky tow truck drivers convince drivers to sign blank documents authorizing the trailer and then charge other fares that may not have been made or even necessary, according to the NICB. In many cases, crane drivers are related or operated through automatic frame repair department stores that charge more costs.
For example, after a car spin of fate in Chicago, a driving force charged $4,700 per trailer, garage and other expenses, which included a $290 “COVID-19” cleaning fee. (Insurance fraud investigators have suggested to consumers to keep an eye on COVID-19 insurance scams.)
The crane scam aims to take advantage of car injuries victims who are shaken by experience. While NICB’s public service announcements have targeted the Chicago and Houston area, this type of scam can take position anywhere in the United States.
If you have a car accident, the NICB gives you these crane tips:
Additionally, the NICB recommends you get the following information before you allow a tow truck to haul away your car:
If the costs are too high, ask the policy or your insurance company to call a towing service for you.
The NICB has provided a checklist for the turn of fate and fraud prevention.
While the maximum operators of towing trucks are honest, it makes sense to be aware of the safety of truck scams:
Here are some other steps you can take to scam crane trucks:
Scammers like to attack other people who are naturally shaken, green and as a result of a car accident. Most other people are not usually victims of car injuries and if their car cannot be driven, they may not know what to do. If an unsolicited driving force appears from a tow truck, it turns out that it is offering a quick fix to your immediate problem.
But if you have roadside assistance, you may already have the solution to your problem. Most roadside assistance plans have a towing advantage. If you have a car accident, you know who to call to be towed. And you may not have to pay for the trailer (or just one component), according to the plan. For example, AAA gives towing up to a certain number of miles, depending on the level of your club.
A smart roadside assistance plan can also resolve other disruptions that may have disabled your car, such as a flat tire, a discharged battery, a car crash, or a fuel failure. You may not have to rely on the kindness of strangers or worry about an unfaithful crane operator.
You can get a roadside assistance plan from your auto insurance company, auto warranty, auto credits, or auto clubs like AAA.
Jason Metz has been working in the insurance industry since 2007. As a former claims manager and fraud investigator, you have noticed and enjoy helping other
Jason Metz has been working in the insurance industry since 2007. As a former claims manager and fraud investigator, you have noticed and enjoy helping others navigate the complexity and opacity of insurance. They gave him a B.S. Kutztown University and an M.F.A. Creative writing at the University of California at Riverside, Palm Desert.