Imagine getting into a fender bender. You’re rattled, checking for damage, when a tow truck arrives—seemingly out of nowhere. You assume it’s legit, but then your car vanishes, and you’re hit with a massive bill. That’s exactly what’s happening in Southern California, where an organized tow truck scam ring has tricked drivers out of over $217,000.

According to the California Department of Insurance, “One of the scams in this case involves a tow truck showing up immediately after a collision occurs and offering to help the driver by towing their vehicle to a body shop. Then the body shop forces the driver to pay a large amount of money typically not covered by your insurance in order to get your vehicle back.”

Authorities charged 16 people in connection with the scheme. “This type of scam is preying on drivers at their most vulnerable moments—immediately after an accident—when they should be focused on their safety and next steps, not fighting to get their vehicle back,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

Tow truck tries to steal a moving car—with people inside

The other tow truck scam is even stranger. In downtown San Francisco, a tow truck driver tried to tow a moving car—with the owners still inside.

As I previously wrote, Joanne and Harry stopped at a red light when a tow truck backed up and tried to latch onto their 2017 Corolla. At first, they thought it was a mistake. They yelled at the driver—but he ignored them.

He backed up again, trying to clamp onto their tires. A black Honda behind them left no room to escape, and a Waymo self-driving taxi blocked the other lane. The tow truck driver tried one last time before pedestrians started shouting at him. When the light turned green, the couple finally escaped—but the tow truck chased them for several blocks.

The truck had a company name on the side: Specialty Towing. Reporters reached out for comment but got silence. The company has been linked to fraud allegations, but authorities haven’t made any arrests.

Later, the driver responded on social media and made it sound like this is a common practice. If a driver eager to make a quick buck on a repossession sees a car on his target list driving around town he might try to “hook” it on the move. Then lock his own doors and wait for the car’s angry occupants to give up and walk away. A highly illegal, and dangerous, tow truck scam. But apparently not an isolated incident.

How to protect yourself from tow truck scams

These tow truck scams prove that scammers strike when drivers are most vulnerable. If a tow truck arrives uninvited, verify it with your insurance before handing over your keys. “If you suspect you’ve been targeted, report it immediately,” Lara urged.

Watch for these red flags:

• A tow truck arrives within minutes—before you even call one.
• The driver tells you where your car is going, instead of asking.
• You’re pressured to sign paperwork on the spot.
• The driver offers to order a rideshare—so you leave the scene.

Authorities have charged 16 people in Southern California, but the San Francisco tow truck mystery remains unsolved by the local police. If you see a tow truck trying to take a moving car, it might not be a repo—it might be a scam.