In a concerning incident on the Belt Parkway in Queens, a group of suspected car insurance fraudsters were caught on camera allegedly causing a collision with an unsuspecting driver. The chaotic scene unfolded on October 7th, and the footage has since gone viral, shedding light on a dangerous scam that’s been plaguing New York City drivers.
The video, captured by a dash cam, shows a white sedan abruptly swerving in front of the victim’s car and slamming on the brakes. Unable to stop in time, the victim’s vehicle crashes into the rear of the white sedan. But that’s not where the incident ends. In a twist that seems straight out of an action movie, two other vehicles immediately pull up, boxing in the victim’s car.
@ashpianatasha4 Insurance fraud attempt in Queens, NY 10-16-2024 PART 1 I was driving in the left lane of the Belt Parkway going East bound towards the Southern State Parkway. The silver Honda (LBB 8917) was in the middle lane, and they cut me off and slammed on the brakes coming to a full stop hoping I would hit them. I did not hit their car and because of that they reversed into my car for collision and acted as if they were injured while coming out of their vehicle. I believe the intention was to say I hit their car for insurance fraud purposes. They had a tarp covering the rear windshield which fell off once they hit my car. You can see the driver is a male wearing a hat and you can see him switching to the passenger seat as well as the movement of the car before anyone gets out. The first three passengers exit the car pretending to be hurt, while the fourth passenger who was driving slips out through the passenger seat and gets into a second vehicle. That second vehicle was a red KIA SUV (KJH 3340) which was following me from behind and keeping distance so they wouldn’t slam into me. The red KIA drove around and picked up the driver to get away. The remaining three people’s demeanor changed once one of them noticed the dashcam. They only came out of the car with their phones ready to record the damage to both cars. They were quick to ask for my insurance and quickly left after the exchange. I called the police at the time of the incident and reported it as an accident, and the police told me they no longer go to an accident if no one is injured and they are willing to exchange information. I did not realize at the time that the driver switched and left in another car or that it was a set-up as I was driving by myself, and everything happened so fast. #queensny #car #caraccident #exposed #newyork #brooklynny @nbcnews @abcnews @nypd @geico @allstate @pix11ny
It’s clear these weren’t Good Samaritans coming to help. This appeared to be a well-orchestrated scheme. The occupants of the surrounding cars quickly hop out, some even brandishing baseball bats. Talk about adding insult to injury!
The NYPD’s getting involved, and they’re not taking this lightly. They’ve slapped the incident with some pretty serious charges: reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, and menacing. It’s a stark reminder of the lengths some folks will go to for a quick buck.
This scam, known as a “swoop and squat,” isn’t new, but it’s definitely on the rise. The Insurance Fraud Bureau of New York has reported a whopping 33% increase in suspected auto insurance fraud cases since 2019. That’s enough to make any driver grip their steering wheel a little tighter.
What’s really got people talking is how brazen these alleged scammers have become. Pulling this off in broad daylight on a busy highway? That’s next-level audacity. It’s got New Yorkers wondering if they’re safe on their own roads.
The incident has sparked a conversation about the need for stricter penalties and better enforcement. Some are calling for harsher sentences for those caught in the act, while others are pushing for more resources to be allocated to combating insurance fraud.
For now, drivers are being advised to stay vigilant and invest in dash cams. It’s a sad state of affairs when you need a camera to protect yourself from potential fraudsters, but that’s the reality we’re facing.
As the investigation continues, one thing’s for sure: New York’s drivers will be keeping their eyes peeled for any suspicious behavior on the roads. After all, you never know when you might become the next target of these alleged highway robbers.