Chaotic dashcam video captured the moment suspected insurance fraudsters crashed into a motorist and seemingly faked their injuries before noticing a dashcam on the Belt Parkway in Queens. Ashpia Natasha had a near accident on the three-lane parkway at 11 a.m. on Wednesday when a silver Honda Accord merged into her lane and abruptly slammed on its brakes. Natasha’s quick reaction saved her from crashing into the Honda. However, the erratic driver then accelerated and rammed into Natasha’s front bumper, causing damage to both vehicles.
Natasha recounted the events to her husband through her car’s speakerphone, explaining the suspicious behavior of the occupants of the Honda. She claimed that the backseat passengers used a tarp to cover the back windshield so the male driver could switch seats with a female passenger. After the crash, four passengers exited the Honda, appearing as if they were injured while inspecting the damage to the cars. Natasha suspected that their intention was to blame her for the accident for insurance fraud purposes.
One female passenger from the Honda was seen recording the scene on her phone, while a red Kia that had been following Natasha pulled up to the accident and picked up the suspected male driver, who had exited the scene. The remaining passengers’ demeanor changed upon noticing Natasha’s dashcam, leading them to quickly exchange insurance information and depart. Natasha asked them to wait for her husband to arrive, but they claimed they had to leave immediately to pick up their baby.
As a tow truck arrived to check Natasha’s car, the other passengers took the opportunity to quickly get back into their Honda and drive away. Natasha later realized that the passengers had orchestrated the accident and subsequent events in a well-planned setup. She had not noticed the suspicious behavior due to the fast-paced nature of the incident and driving alone. Natasha reported the incident to the NYPD, who informed her that they do not respond to accidents without injuries if both parties are willing to exchange information.
In 2020, insurance carriers reported over 24,000 incidents of suspected motor vehicle insurance fraud, with more than 18,000 of those labeled as no-fault insurance fraud reports, marking a 23 percent increase from the previous year. The prevalence of insurance fraud incidents highlights the importance of vigilance and documentation, such as dashcam footage, to protect oneself from potential scams. The video of the suspected insurance fraud attempt on the Belt Parkway serves as a cautionary tale for motorists to be aware of potential scams and to take necessary precautions to safeguard against fraudulent activities.
