Officials warn that scammers take LA County residents’ vehicles and demand steep fees for their return.
According to county officials, after surviving the devastating Eaton fire, some Los Angeles County residents found themselves facing another crisis—fraudulent towing companies seizing their vehicles and demanding hefty fees for their return. [source]
The Eaton fire, which ignited on January 7 near Pasadena, destroyed over 9,400 homes and businesses and tragically claimed 17 lives. Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, revealed that during the first four days of the wildfire, certain tow truck operators falsely posed as officials from Altadena. These operators towed vehicles without informing owners of their whereabouts. [source]
These companies then demanded exorbitant fees for releasing the vehicles, many of which were later found in Riverside and San Bernardino counties—about an hour’s drive from Los Angeles. [source]
“I find it disgusting that these fraudulent tow operators took advantage of fire survivors when they were already going through so much,” Barger said in a statement on Monday. [source]
Barger’s office has yet to respond to The Guardian’s request for details on the number of residents affected. [source]
Officials are urging anyone who has had questionable encounters with towing companies—such as being asked to provide photos of their driver’s license or being told their vehicle’s location was unknown—to report the incidents to the Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud Taskforce. [source]
“Those responsible for this appalling scheme must be held accountable,” Barger stated. “I encourage anyone who was scammed to come forward so we can put a stop to these bad actors targeting our communities.” [source]
Barger’s warning follows a recent alert from the California Department of Insurance regarding increased scams where tow companies hold accident victims’ vehicles “hostage for cash.” This investigation was already underway before the Eaton fire. [source]
Victims David Gueringer and Ursula Knudson, both from Los Angeles, shared their experience with ABC7. They explained that a towing company falsely claimed to have been contracted by the city for debris removal. Later, the company placed a lien on their car. [source]
“I realized they wanted the cars. It’s a mess,” Knudson told ABC7. “It would almost be impressive if it weren’t so awful.” [source]
While recovery efforts in Los Angeles County continue, the process has been challenging. Last week, Mayor Karen Bass removed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley following criticism of the city’s wildfire response. Reports indicate that Crowley had sent 1,000 firefighters home on the day the fires began, a decision that sparked an intense backlash from the firefighters’ union. [source]
Contact The Eaton Fire Lawyers At The Wagner Law Group
Both fires were highly destructive, claiming more than 29 lives and 18,000 structures. If you or a loved one faced loss due to Eaton Fire or Pacific Palisades Fire, please don’t hesitate to contact the California fire attorneys at The Wagner Law Group. We’re standing by to fight for you in a court of law. Let our Eaton fire lawyers get you the compensation you deserve. Call 626-310-3796 to schedule a consultation today.