On some roads, crooks simulate small accidents and then claim their victim that she has damaged their rear view mirror. And ask him for a sum of money in order to settle the situation, sometimes in the presence of a false insurer.
On the roads, especially during vacation periods, scams are increasing. We saw the one in telepéage, the one with the petrol pump, or even the so -called “Irishwoman”. Here is another, particularly vicious: the scam with false collision.
It is not entirely new, but it is currently in full resurgence. The Cantal gendarmerie alerted on it in a Facebook post relayed by France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. She claims that two cases of this particularly tied scam were reported to her in less than a week. So sign that she is gaining momentum.
The process is as follows: first, the crooks are in pairs. On board a car, one of the two marks a target, often an elderly person. He will then go on him, and make headlight calls to encourage him to stop. Once when stopped, the scammer (falsely) accuses his victim of having degraded his vehicle without noticing in a maneuver or an overtaking.
The staging is particularly worked, since after a while the crook takes out his phone allegedly to call his insurer. This is where the accomplice comes in, in the role therefore of the false insurer. He will push the victim to establish an observation, while exaggerating the cost of repairs.
The motorist scammer then suggests that his target adjusts the sum directly in cash. “To avoid any litigation file,” said the Cantal gendarmerie.
A widespread scam in France and abroad
Everything may seem quite large like that but the victims, especially if they are elderly and vulnerable, can have their reasoning capacities reduced by the effect of surprise. As well as psychological pressure or even threats made by the scammer.
This scam is not confined to Cantal. Similar scams were noted in Burgundy, towards Le Creusot, told in March the newspaper of Saône-et-Loire. Two elderly people were claimed 1,000 euros for one and 1,400 euros for the other, by criminals. Earlier, it was Actutoulouse who alerted to a similar scam, which occurred in Colomiers, near the Pink City.
Also abroad this method seems widespread. The 24-hour Swiss newspaper devoted an article to this scam which mainly targets tourists in Italy, where it is called the “Truffa dello Specchietto”, that is to say scam in the mirror.
There, the linguistic barrier plays a crucial role. Having to settle a dispute when we do not speak a foreign language is intimidating, and the “amicable” arrangement proposed by the scammer seems simpler than involving police and insurance. We therefore agree to pay a sum of cash.
Finally in Switzerland where the scam is also widespread, “some crooks go so far as to get into the vehicle of their victim to accompany him to the ticket distributor,” describes the 24 -hour newspaper.
Be vigilant and report to the police
On the roads, you must therefore be particularly vigilant in the face of this type of scam. The Cantal gendarmerie thus provides some essential advice.
If you are discussed by people claiming an accident, always establish an amicable observation. Neither do you go from your official insurer to adjust this type of dispute. And above all, never give cash. Even under pressure. Accept even less to follow your interlocutor to a ticket distributor to have you removed. If he does this there is not too much doubt to have, he will be a scammer.
If this is the case, immediately contact the police or gendarmerie services by composing on the 17th. Indicate them the suspect’s license plate if you have noted it. As well as the physical and clothing appearances of crooks.
The gendarmerie strongly encourages you to do so to prevent this type of scam making more victims. The authors of this type of offense risk up to 5 years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros.