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WARNING: Roadway Scam You Need to Know

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

A few days ago, we experienced a terrifying incident while driving. My husband, myself, and our son were heading into Fort Worth. We were in the right-hand lane going 65 mph. 

A pickup truck in the left lane began drifting into our car. My husband laid on the horn and the truck moved back into his lane. Moments, and I mean moments later, this same truck aggressively angled his truck in front of us into our lane. It was very obvious this was an intentional move.

It was terrifying. I let out a scream as we were INCHES from being struck. As I looked to the right there was a deep ravine that we could have easily been knocked into. Thankfully, Mark was paying attention and we avoided the collision.

As we gathered our thoughts after a few seconds, we realized we were being targeted for what has become a common scam happening in our area and from what I am hearing, all over the country. The goal for the "scammer" is to cause you to hit their vehicle and then demand your driver's license and cash.

Just a few days prior to this incident, one of my dear friends who is a widow had this same thing happen to her on this same road. She wasn't as lucky and was hit. The other driver jumped out of his truck and began aggressively yelling at her to give him her license and to pay cash. She was smart and refused to exit her car while calling 911.

What we are learning from some of our friends who are insurance agents, this is happening everywhere. These scammers are targeting people who look like they most likely have insurance. Then, they set up the "accident". 

Needless to say, this is a very frightening situation. Here are the tips we have received from the insurance professionals:

1. If a collision occurs, stay as calm as you can and pull over in a safe place.

2. Call 911.

3. Do NOT engage with the other driver. 

4. Video record any actions from the other driver.

5. Invest in getting a dash cam for all of your vehicles.

6. Only exit your vehicle when law enforcement arrives.

The goal of these scammers is to threaten and intimidate you. They only want to scam you out of money. Additionally, there are reports that those who do give them their license, they take a picture so they know where you live. Then, they begin stalking and showing up at their personal residence. Beware!

We are extremely fortunate that we avoided this accident. We are now very aware of this scam and hopefully will avoid being targeted in the future. This is sad but important for all to know about.

And ladies, they target females who are alone more frequently. Heads up, be safe, and stay vigilant. I hope these thugs are caught and dealt with and hopefully, don't cause a crash that ends up with injuries or worse.

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Comments(31)

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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Paula I as horrified when I saw this on your FB page but wasn't surprised as something similiar happened to me a few years ago....but not nearly as serious as your situation.  I am so glad Mark was able to act quickly and get you out of that mess.  Thank God!  We need to make sure to get the word out to all our friends and loved one.  Thank you for writing about this here on AR.

 

Featured in BananaTUDES

 

May 30, 2025 10:33 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Anna, I am hearing so many of these stories. Wow!

May 30, 2025 11:39 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I have not heard of this and am grateful for you sharing it. I will let my husband know and we will be better off for having been warned. Thank you!

So glad you escaped the scam.

May 30, 2025 01:56 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Paula,

I have heard of this scam and it's happening all over. The bummer is all our DA's and judges are not wanting to prosecute so these individuals have no consequences therefore they are getting more aggressive!

May 30, 2025 02:39 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

The greed and depravity goes deep, Paula! Glad you and your family are safe.

May 30, 2025 04:32 PM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

Paula, these scams are "Something old is something new again"...variations on this theme hve existed for a long time...thankfully you did not fall victim to this!!

May 30, 2025 08:05 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Paula - scammers and spammers live "among" us.  The story you share is scary but not totally unknown.  Thank you for the post.  

May 31, 2025 03:38 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi Dr. Paula McDonald

 Glad you and your husband are okay, and the criminal didn't hit you.

  This was a thing in Florida several years ago.  A car (an older clunker, or perhaps a rental car) with 3 or 4 people in it would swerve in front of someone, then slam on the brakes.   The Victim car would rear-end the braking car.  The Victim car driver would presumably be at fault ("You ran into the back of our car!").

   Then all of the people in the scammer car would start holding their necks pretending to be in pain; they would demand payment for their "injuries".

  Interestingly, it was the Auto Insurance Companies who stopped this scam (they were the ones on the hook for the payouts). 

 

 Your advice is spot-on, invest in a dashboard camera.  Consider front and rear views.

And, carry a weapon.  This is an assault on your life, and the lives of your passengers.  I am not suggesting "road rage", but be ready to defend yourself.

 

 

May 31, 2025 04:22 AM
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate 

I remember this well but haven't heard of what Paula posted happening here...yet. No wonder insurance is so high.

 

May 31, 2025 09:54 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Paula,

I am so glad you are all ok? It is disheartening that scammers have infiltrated every aspect of our lives.

May 31, 2025 07:04 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Oh Dr. Paula, this is unreal what scammer are doing and I did not here are this before.  I am glad your husband is a good driver.  Can I reblog this next week?

May 31, 2025 09:01 AM
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

I have not heard of this happening here yet but there used to be the scam that Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate mentioned. Thanks for posting this and I am glad you and your family stayed safe.

 

May 31, 2025 09:50 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I hear about things like this all the time, but life goes on and I just don’t pick up the call.

May 31, 2025 09:48 PM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

I am very glad you are okay! It is just horrible what people will do to scam other people instead of working for a living.   

Jun 01, 2025 01:48 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Will Hamm sent me over Dr. Paula McDonald . I appreciate the tip to video record the scammers actions once he jumps out of his vehicle. I used to have a dashcam and I should get a new one. All that being said there is absolutely no doubt that once the scammer jumped out of his car he would have been staring down my gun barrel.

Jun 03, 2025 12:04 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Dr. Paula McDonald I have not heard of this scam around here, but I appreciate the heads-up.

Jun 03, 2025 01:26 PM
Joe Mojica
Laer Realty Partners Bowen - Port St Lucie, FL
Your Home Adds Value to You

Dr. Paula McDonald, I have heard of a similar scam but not yours in particular. The sad thing about this is that if your the victim, put in a claim, your insurance premiums increase. I was car-jacked at gun point. They took my car, wrecked it (totaled). Guess what? My premium went up by $1500 per year at that time.  They were caught, they were teenagers and got away with it. 

Jun 04, 2025 07:01 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Wow!  Lucky you all averted that accident and additional drama and trauma!  I appreciate the heads up as I am driving alone 99% of the time; however, my car is equipped with about 6 cameras that I can turn in with a tap. Maybe they avoid my model car?  Either way, I'm vigilant now.  Thank you!

Jun 05, 2025 09:06 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Paula:

Thank you for sharing this story and the scam so others are aware and can be prepared. So sorry you had to experience what you did and that Mark was able to avoid a collision.

Jeff

Jun 05, 2025 10:37 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Got a dash cam years ago and will always have one now.  It's scary out there.

Jun 06, 2025 11:40 AM
Vanessa Mouton
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Cary, NC
REALTOR®, Coach | Real Talk. NC-Based.

Wow, thank you for sharing Dr. Paula McDonald .  I'm so glad you are all safe.  This is scary indeed!

Jun 06, 2025 02:31 PM
Fred Sweezer Sr. CMI, LLC.
Hud Certified 203K Consultant - Long Beach, CA
HUD 203k Consultant

thanks for the post!

Jun 08, 2025 05:45 AM