What the Heck is a “Swoop and Squat?” Recently, I posted on my personal Facebook page letting people know that I was going to write an article on a practice known as a “Swoop and Squat.” I got some very imaginative responses as to what people thought this might be. One person asked me privately if this is what happens when you REALLY need to use the restroom after traveling for some distance. While they definitely get kudos for creativity that is NOT what a “Swoop and Squat” is. For as long as there has been insurance, there has been insurance fraud. Today, insurance companies have many, many resources available to them to protect themselves and you, the insured, from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous people who have no problem being dishonest. Some people think that insurance fraud is a victimless crime, but for those people who have been the victim of it, they can see increased premiums, or even loss of insurance if the people are not caught! While the vast majority of people are honest, there is the small minority that will gladly set things up so that they can take advantage of an unwitting driver. The “Swoop and Squat” is one of the most common methods these fraudsters use to take advantage of you. By following a few simple steps, you can guard yourself from being the victim of the “Swoop and Squat.” The “Swoop and Squat” is normally carried out by a two-part team. There are normally two vehicles involved, but not necessarily. Sometimes one vehicle is used, but the end result is the same. A common target of this type of fraud is mini-vans or large trucks. These vehicles are targeted because the criminals know that they most likely have levels of insurance higher than State mandated minimum. Most family and business people follow the law and have a respect for the value of insurance. Because of this, the criminals know they potentially have the opportunity to get more money from their victims. They are especially prone to target “soccer moms” with kids in the car. The rationale will become clear in a moment. Here are the mechanics of how it works. Vehicle one is the vehicle driven by people who fully intend to be rear-ended by unsuspecting victim. They normally drive a large, older-model sedan. While they have no concern for other people, they go out of their way to protect themselves by driving a vehicle with lots of metal! They often fill the trunk with spare tires to help cushion the blow. There is almost always more than one person in the vehicle, sometimes as many as four or five. They maneuver themselves in front of the victim’s vehicle and then watch to see if the driver is paying attention. Vehicle two will pull up alongside the victim’s vehicle and try to catch the eye of the driver. When the driver looks away, the driver of vehicle one will slam on the brakes. The victim has no time to react and rear-ends vehicle one. The occupants of vehicle one will often run out of the vehicle, all of them claiming bodily injury. They surround the vehicle demanding to know who the victim’s insurance is and asking for identification. Soccer moms with kids in the car will often be intimidated by the sheer number of people and fear for the safety of their children and will start handing over information very quickly. They may neglect to get the information of the other parties because they just want the unpleasant episode to be over. Sometimes, “Swoop and Squat” fraudsters will be part of an organized ring. Attorneys and medical providers will often be involved, http://bit.ly/1wlBLj6. Insurance companies have become much more sophisticated at rooting these offenders out, but it still happens. The question is, what can YOU do to avoid this insurance fraud scheme? The main thing is, use common sense. Make sure that you are maintaining safe distances from the vehicles in front of you. The “Swoop and Squat” schemers will sometimes speed up prior to initiating braking to fool the victim into thinking they have plenty of room to stop. Be aware of the vehicles in front of you at all times. Also, realize that distraction is the great ally of the “Swoop and Squatters.” If they can distract you, they have gotten most of the way to implementing their scheme. Everyone already knows that texting and driving is a really bad mix. This practice just makes the fraudsters’ job that much easier. Finally, if you believe that you have just become the victim of a “Swoop and Squat,” STAY CALM! If you can quickly get someone on the phone, let them know where you are and what is happening. If your friend could stay on the line, that would be useful in that they may be able to hear what’s going on. Also, let the people around your vehicle know that you have someone on the line, then calmly give them your insurance information and identification. Don’t forget to ask for their information and insurance as well. THEN call your insurance agent to find out what the next step is. If you suspect that you are a victim of this type of fraud, let your agent know and why you think that this is the case. While we will probably never eliminate insurance fraud, we can do our part to make sure that we don’t become a victim of it. Also, educate youthful drivers in your household about this type of fraud. Better yet, schedule an appointment with your insurance agent to meet with your youthful drivers and he or she can educate them on safe driving tips. Sometimes it’s better when someone other than mom and dad give them this type of information. (If you have a teenager, you know what I mean!) If your insurance agent won’t do this, it’s time to look for another agent. If you have any questions on how to avoid becoming the victim of a “Swoop and Squat,” feel free to call my office at (661) 946-4224 or email me at dave@thedaveowens.com. I or my staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have. This post is not intended to replace the advice of an insurance professional who has a thorough knowledge of your situation. Thanks for reading!
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AuthorDave Owens, Owner/Agent. I have proudly served in the Insurance Industry for over 20 years. Archives
October 2019
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