Scheme 1. Subtle braking with an unseen pull
Seeing a possible target moving behind him on the road, the vehicle pretends to brake but not with the pedal. Instead, the parking brake is engaged, leaving the brake lights dark. The driver behind has little time to react and may crash into the intruder’s car. Often this leads to an expensive foreign vehicle being hit.
In general, scam drivers apply braking quietly on road sections where the limit is 40 km/h. In these zones, cars keep short gaps and slow speeds. This setup lowers the chance of serious injury. Remember, if health is at stake, it is mandatory to call the traffic police.
Cheap cars are typically chosen as targets. After a collision, scammers push for immediate monetary compensation and avoid calling the police.
What should drivers do?
Don’t yield to scammers’ pressure and don’t leave the scene. Photograph the accident from all four sides and report it by dialing 112.
Scammers can be fought with their own tactics. If a setup is suspected after a crash, snap a photo of the fake car’s license plate and the scammers themselves. If police are summoned, scammers usually lag behind their victims.
Scheme 2. Toll road charges during travel
The new scheme expands during holidays when traffic moves toward rest areas. Many motorists don’t realize they’ve entered a toll zone. Internet criminals exploit this by creating phishing sites that mimic real portals offering paid services. Links to fake sites are then sent to drivers.
According to Avtodor, this trick is easy to fall for. The link to the fake site only changes one letter, and at a glance it’s hard to tell real from fake. The phishing page is crafted to resemble the operator of the toll roads.
The realistic feel is enhanced by actual SMS debt notices sent by toll road operators.
How can one avoid becoming a victim?
Don’t rush to pay. Verify debts by visiting the official company page online. It’s also wise to check debts using the vehicle’s license plate.
Scheme 3. The “Triangle” scam in car sales
In this trick, both seller and buyer are deceived. A scammer finds a genuine car listing, copies it, and posts it elsewhere at a lower price.
Then the fraudster plays two roles: posing as a real seller to the buyer, and as an interested buyer to the car owner. These scammers are sometimes called middlemen or intermediaries. The fake buyer arranges a meeting and insists on payment by bank card, claiming a quick deal.
The middleman tells the seller that a representative will sign the documents and complete the sale, while the buyer promises to transfer funds to the seller’s card. In reality, the money goes to the intermediary’s card and disappears.
How to proceed safely?
Pay only to the car owner whose details appear on the title. Request the owner’s confirmation of the card to use for the transfer.
A reliable sign of a fake car crash
National Automobile Union officials note that vehicle replacement rules have remained unchanged for years.
A clear sign of a scam is the insistence on not calling the police and trying to settle the matter on the spot.
“Scammers use a variety of methods, but they all push for cash on the spot for a fake accident,” warned an industry expert. The recommendation is to immediately contact local traffic police after a crash and to keep a current CMTPL policy handy.
- Who should check the car’s technical condition on the road? The head of the National Traffic Inspectorate addresses this question here.
- Insights from “Behind the Wheel” can be found in Telegram.