If a tow truck just randomly shows up after you’ve broken down or had an accident, think twice before letting them take your car. Earlier this year, a state Department of Insurance dropped a PSA warning drivers about a nasty scam tearing through Southern California. It’s not your run-of-the-mill insurance fraud. This one involves tow truck drivers swooping in after accidents, hauling your car off, then demanding a ransom to get it back.

In February, the California Department of Insurance issued a scam warning. Prosecutors arraigned 16 people tied to an auto insurance fraud ring. Investigators say the group ran an organized scam worth more than $216,000. The ring targeted crash victims when they were at their most vulnerable.

The investigation kicked off in late 2022. Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force discovered that Rosa Isela Santistevan – a California Highway Patrol office worker – had been selling traffic collision report face pages. These reports included personal information about crash victims. Andre Angelo Reyes, the alleged ringleader, used this stolen data to coordinate unauthorized tows.

Reyes teamed up with Esmeralda Parga, who called victims pretending to be from their insurance company. She arranged for their vehicles to be towed without the driver’s consent. Certified Auto in Buena Park, owned by Anthony Gomez, received them. Once there, the body shop held the cars hostage, demanding cash before releasing them. The scam relied on a tight circle of collaborators, including tow truck drivers who picked up the vehicles and played along.

Investigators seized over 3,500 stolen traffic reports from Parga’s home and uncovered several fraudulent insurance schemes, including staged crashes. The task force, which includes the Department of Insurance, CHP, and district attorneys from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, also charged Reyes and Diana Villa Pineda with $136,000 in tax evasion.

Now for the part that could save you a serious headache: Know the red flags that signal a tow truck scam

If a tow truck shows up before you even finish dialing your insurer, don’t trust it. If the driver insists on choosing the body shop, pushes you to sign paperwork, or arranges a rideshare without your input, start asking questions. Call your insurance company or wait for police to confirm the tow.

These scams work because people are shaken after a crash. Stay calm, stay skeptical, and take control of the situation. If something feels off, report it. Don’t let your car – and your wallet – get hijacked.