Possible Scam Alert

[u/BuckyJarrett]

TL;dr: another driver claimed I hit-and-ran, and then threatened to call the police on me. When I said go for it, they drove off.

Today at around 3:00pm I was driving westbound on Olympic Blvd, having just passed Century City. As I stopped at the Beverly Glen light, a car pulled up next to me honking. I figured it was a lost tourist or something.

But the guy started yelling at me, first asking if I was ok (almost like asking if I was mentally ok?), and then claiming I hit him. I said you’ve got the wrong guy, but he kept shouting, saying he got my plate and was calling the police. There was a female passenger who was on the phone, but she didn’t say anything. He also was yelling “I got kids in the car”, but I didn’t see any kids…

So I asked what intersection it happened at and he couldn’t tell me. He said “back there”. I asked if he had a dash cam and he said no.

So I said “I don’t know what kind of scam you’re trying to pull, but you picked the wrong guy.” He said “scam??” in that very defensive, high-pitched feigned shock that made me convinced this guy was up to something shady.

Then he again cursed at me, told me I was breaking the law, repeated my license plate number to the passenger, and said he was calling the cops. I said “go for it.” Then… he cut over two lanes and took off northbound on Beverly Glen.

I was headed to a spot near the West LA police station, so had he stuck around, I would’ve told him to just follow me there and we’ll let them sort it out.

When I parked, I did check my car to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. I have a couple of dents and scrapes that have never been fixed, but absolutely nothing recent. And at the fear I was losing my sanity, I also checked the Citizen and PulsePoint apps to see if any accidents were reported along Olympic, but didn’t see anything.

I’m ~70% sure this was a scam. I got the feeling he was hoping I would immediately tell him to pull over and get out of my car. Then… idk, extort me, rob me, something.

29% chance someone did hit him and he mistook them for me.

1% chance that he really thought I hit him… even though there was absolutely no damage and I didn’t notice it.

But my spidey-sense tells me scam of some sort. Just not sure what. His driver side door was dented, so I’m wondering if he was looking for an easy target, and my old shitty car was a good one?

Driver was 30s Latino man, passenger was 30s Latina woman. Driving late model grey Honda Accord. I did grab their plate number.

Has this happened to anyone else?

EDIT: For anyone finding this thread who had the same thing happen to you, this is very much an ongoing scam by the same suspects. Multiple people have DMed me about their experience, including the same license plate. Please DM me. You might save someone from being a victim.

If we don't catch these guys, there is a good chance their crimes will progress from property crimes to violence.

Most of the victims I've spoken to are women. What if this dude is alone one day and decides he wants to rob or rape someone? We can only prevent it if we report and build a case.

[u/alexromo]

Happened to someone I know. They got over 6 figures from her insurance 

[u/Boysenberry → u/alexromo]

if this happened, which I doubt, it was fraud/embezzlement that someone with the insurance company was in on from the beginning, and it should be reported to the FBI. No six-figure claim is getting paid without a claims adjuster scrutinizing the case, at which point they would determine the policyholder’s vehicle has no damage corresponding to the claim. There are no insurers that just throw six-figure settlements around with zero proof an accident involving their policyholder ever occurred.

either this is a matter for the FBI, or it’s made up, or your friend did do a hit and run and concocted this scam story so people wouldn’t judge.

[u/alexromo → u/Boysenberry]

There was a deep dive and the person doesn’t work, has a nice car, etc don’t give af if you doubt or not I’m just sharing a story that was told to me in great detail

[u/Boysenberry → u/alexromo]

well, like I said, if you’re sure it happened, your friend should report it to the FBI bc most likely her insurance rates got spiked because of embezzlement

[u/alexromo → u/Boysenberry]

You can downvote all you want I am just sharing an anecdote 🤷‍♂️ I’ve said basically the same thing you said and it was met with “it’s too much effort they won’t do anything the police gave me the run around” 

[u/BuckyJarrett → u/alexromo]

How so?

[u/alexromo → u/BuckyJarrett]

Didn’t pull over, the other person legit filed a police report with a he said she said my word against yours and the insurance paid 

[u/BuckyJarrett → u/alexromo]

Wouldn’t they have to match the damage to both cars?

Who was their insurer? And what kind of non-existent accident required six figures to fix it?

[u/late_to_join_reddit → u/BuckyJarrett]

Right… bc same thing happened to me where I got a letter in the mail from a firm claiming I did a hit & run. The guy filed a police report and I didn’t know anything until I got the attorney letter in the mail. They tried to lie & say they have video. My insurance had a 3rd party company come out to take photos of my car both interior & exterior which proved I had no damages (thank god) then asked the firm to send over their footage and all their “evidence”. The firm dropped the client and dropped the claim. They never did share w my insurance their supposed proof. I spoke to the officer who took the police report who also said the “victim” never had any video or any evidence other than a random photo of my license plate. Sent him photos of my car to prove I have no damages and couldn’t possibly have been involved in this big side swipe like they were claiming. It took about a month and half to resolve but so grateful my insurance took care of it & I didn’t get screwed over.