State warns drivers about vehicle hostage scam in SoCal

CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Insurance (CDI) warned drivers, on February 18, about tow truck scams holding accident victims’ vehicles hostage for cash. The department said the scam has become prevalent in Southern California.

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 insurance in order to get the vehicle back.

“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 CDI commissioner Ricardo Lara.

Faked insurance claims and collected over $216,932 illegally

The Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force launched an investigation in November 2022 after discovering Rosa Isela Santistevan, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) employee, illegally sold traffic collision reports with personal information.

She collaborated with Andre Angelo Reyes, the ring’s leader, who used the reports to target victims through Esmeralda Parga, who posed as an insurance company representative.

Victims were tricked into having their vehicles towed to Certified Auto, a repair shop owned by Anthony Gomez, where the cars were held for ransom.

Search warrants revealed over 3,500 stolen reports and additional insurance fraud schemes, including staged collisions. Reyes and others, including Diana Villa Pineda, also face tax evasion charges. The Riverside County DA is prosecuting the case.

The task force found that the fraud group worked together to fake insurance claims and collect over $216,932 illegally.

The same group was previously charged for a similar scam where they stole cars and took them to California Collision, an auto body shop in San Bernardino County.

Red Flags

CDI warns drivers to be aware of these red flags:

A tow truck shows up right after the accident, even before the driver can call anyone.
The tow truck driver decides which body shop the car goes to instead of letting the car owner choose.
The tow truck driver asks the car owner to sign papers or says someone will call them later.
The tow truck driver orders a rideshare for the car owner.

The department advises drivers to check with their insurance company or wait for CHP to confirm the tow truck if they think they’re in this kind of situation.

It also warns drivers not to sign any papers until they’ve talked to their insurance company. To learn more or report fraud, contact the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or visit insurance.ca.gov.