Don’t pay upfront: RCMP warn of ‘parking lot fraud’
Posted March 28, 2018 9:37 am.
Last Updated March 28, 2018 9:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – RCMP in Coquitlam are giving drivers a heads-up about some suspected cases of parking lot fraud.
“What they do is they’re waiting for somebody to back out. And when they do, the suspect will approach the rear of the car, bump into it, make a noise, and then pretend to be hurt,” explains Corporal Mike McLaughlin.
He says the fraudsters then try to pressure the driver into paying a cash settlement on the spot, instead of calling ICBC and making a claim.
According to McLaughlin, Canadians of Asian descent seem to be the preferred targets.
He says there’s an easy way to protect yourself if this happens to you — just make the claim.
“You can always settle privately, once the claim has started. But once you’ve used the official process, a lot of fraudsters are going to back away and no longer demand money.”
The scam could be happening in other areas of Metro Vancouver, too.
Coquitlam RCMP say if you are ever in a collision and you think you are being victimized by a fraud in progress, you should call 911. For all other cases of fraud, you should call the non-emergency number of your local police.
