Scam warning: Woman pretending to be hit by car targeting drivers
Perhaps it is time to buy that dash cam…
A dash cam has captured the moment a scam artist pretends to be hit by a car, while her accomplice takes photos for evidence.
Drivers are being warned to be on the lookout for scammers in a Sydney suburb after one was targeted by someone who claimed he’d hit an old woman with his car.
Posting on Reddit at the weekend, user ‘HorusTheSonOfOsiris’ said his friend was driving in the north-west suburb of Quakers Hill when “suddenly a woman lay on the road in front of his car. They accused him of hitting the woman with his car and threatened him to pay them.”
In the footage, which was posted on Sunday, the vehicle can be seen driving along a suburban street when an elderly woman is seen walking in the middle of the road.
The woman then, slowly, bends down and lies on the road immediately in front of the car, before a younger man strolls over holding up his phone to take pictures as evidence.
Before the clip ends, another young woman with a pram is seen approaching confronts the driver, and appears to check on the woman’s wellbeing. It is not yet known whether she is also involved.
According to New South Wales Police, the incident has not yet been reported, though it urges anyone with information to report it to their local police or Crime Stoppers.
Commenters on the post questioned how anyone could actually fall for such a scam.
One said: “Wow. This is the perfect advertisement to go and buy a dash cam.”
Meanwhile, another added: “It’s such a stupid … scam because all it takes is one person with a dash cam to send it to the cops and their whole scam falls apart. There’s like zero chance they’d ever be able to profit from this and get away with it.”
However, playing devil’s advocate, a different user said: “When you have multiple ‘witnesses’ it would begin to be more believable to someone who hadn’t seen this video. This would all unravel fairly quickly I would expect, however, it’s sadly proven to work in other countries.”
“Play their game,” another said.
“‘OH MY GOD! Are you okay?! Hold on let me call the ambulance and the police and get you some help.’
“If they’re stupid enough to go through with that, wait for the services to show up – let the cops speak to them first. Let them and all the witnesses give their details (very important!) and statements to police.
“Then when the cops come to get your side – boom hit them with the dash cam footage. Adds a nice little charge of perjury/false statement.
“If they don’t want the police or ambulance, play dumb, “but why not? You’re laying on the road and you’re all saying she’s hurt? You know what I’m going to call them anyway, you could be really hurt.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The post Scam warning: Woman pretending to be hit by car targeting drivers appeared first on Drive.
