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Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
NICB Warns Central North Carolina About Potential Contractor Fraud After Tropical Storm Chantal
OAK BROOK, Ill., July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tropical Storm Chantal has led to flooding in Central North Carolina resulting in homes, schools and businesses being destroyed or severely damaged. In response to this catastrophic weather event, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading non-profit association dedicated to preventing insurance fraud and crime, is warning residents and business owners about potentially fraudulent contractors who prey on consumers in disaster areas. NICB agents are currently coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as NICB member insurance companies, to aid in the recovery process and support residents in preventing fraud. As first responder efforts subside, NICB agents will deploy in the region to assist our partners in combating any fraud that arises as the rebuilding process begins. 'North Carolina has declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Chantal,' said Bill Woolf, Mid-Atlantic regional director, NICB. 'As the conditions begin to improve, it is crucial for residents to be mindful that some contractors may promise help, ask for the assignment of benefits, and after being paid, disappear, never to be heard from again. Knowing the warning signs of potentially untrustworthy contractors can protect vulnerable citizens and deter this type of crime.' Fraud schemes may come from companies or individuals promising debris and tree removal, home construction and medical services. NICB urges affected residents to do their due diligence, check in with their insurance carrier and verify the credentials of anyone they plan to hire for a service. Common red flags include high-pressure sales tactics via door-to-door solicitation, online or by phone. Additionally, pushing residents to sign contracts on the spot – often with multiple blank spaces in them – demanding payment upfront, and even requiring an Assignment of Benefits agreement which transfers insurance rights to the contractor can be signals to double check credentials and credibility. NICB offers consumers a free downloadable contractor checklist available via this link: Other best practices include: Before a disaster Understand what's covered in your insurance policy Get a list of reputable contractors from your insurance carrier After a disaster Don't succumb to pressure from a contractor Be wary of door-to-door contractors Call your carrier or BBB to verify contractor Get multiple bids for work Never pay cash up front Never accept a verbal agreement Additional resources and information about hiring reputable contractors can be found by visiting Or, to report potential fraud call NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB. About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit
Malaysian Reserve
15-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe Testifies to U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Unprecedented Threat of Cargo Theft
Glawe Urges Passage of Combating Organized Retail Crime Act OAK BROOK, Ill., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — David J. Glawe, President and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading non-profit association dedicated to preventing insurance fraud and crime, testified Tuesday before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary in its hearing, 'Beyond the Smash and Grab: Criminal Networks and Organized Theft.' The hearing focused on bolstering federal efforts to dismantle transnational crime rings which drove an unprecedented surge in cargo theft in recent years and highlighted the need for Congress to adopt the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA). In his testimony, Glawe leveraged NICB's unique position at the intersection of the insurance industry and law enforcement, as well as his more than three decades of law enforcement and national security experience, to highlight how cargo theft has escalated to historic levels and become a vector for transnational criminal activity. 'Most cargo thefts are not the result of small operations, rather they are committed by well-funded, sophisticated criminal businesses,' Glawe said. 'These criminal networks are exploiting supply chain vulnerabilities and abusing new technologies to finance other illicit activities, including drug and weapons trafficking and terrorism. The impacts are felt on kitchen tables across the country through higher prices.' Six to eight incidents of cargo theft occur every day, with an average value per theft of more than $200,000. In the last 18 months, NICB has assisted in over 240 cargo crime investigations, leading to more than 70 recoveries valued at nearly $40 million. Since 2022, NICB has opened an average of 150 commercial cargo crime cases per year. NICB agents play a crucial role in coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as NICB member insurance companies, to aid in investigations of organized crime and other bad actors involved in cargo theft. Key points emphasized in Glawe's testimony: The U.S. is experiencing a historic spike in cargo thefts: The value of stolen merchandise and estimated losses broke the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2023, going on to increase 27% in 2024. These figures are projected to increase another 22% by the end of 2025. Transnational criminal organizations are reaping the rewards: Through cyber-enabled logistics manipulation and new methods of identity theft, cargo theft has gone unchecked for too long. Stolen goods are often used to fund darker criminal enterprises: Items ranging from everyday consumer goods to high-end luxury are sold in illicit markets, fueling drug trafficking, arms dealing and terrorism. NICB and law enforcement collaborate closely to counter cargo theft: NICB's special agents and intelligence analysts maintain strong relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement to investigate and dismantle organized cargo theft rings to recover stolen goods. Support for CORCA (S. 1404): Glawe reaffirmed NICB's support for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act to expand federal coordination and enforcement capabilities in investigations of interstate and transnational theft. Voices across the private and public sectors joined together to acknowledge that the only way to stop cargo theft is through a concerted effort from all affected industries, levels of law enforcement, policymakers and the public. The committee also heard testimony from Donna Lemm, Chief Strategy Officer at IMC Logistics, Scott McBride, Chief Global Asset Protection Officer at American Eagle Outfitters, and Summer Stephan, District Attorney of San Diego County and President of The National District Attorneys Association. If you suspect potential cargo theft, call local law enforcement, your insurance carrier and NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB. To learn how to help deter cargo theft visit About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What are the most stolen cars in Pennsylvania?
(WHTM) — Nationwide, a vehicle is stolen every 37 seconds, with some stolen more than others. Here are the most stolen cars in Pennsylvania. Based on data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen car in Pennsylvania last year, followed by the Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord. All 34 of those cars are among the most stolen nationwide. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In Pennsylvania, the Honda CR-V and the Jeep Grand Cherokee round out the top 5. The good news is that overall vehicle thefts in Pennsylvania in 2024 fell 19% from the year before. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
American drivers warned about red flags to avoid ‘predatory towing' targeting motorists across US
Victims of car collisions may have more to worry about as insurance companies warn drivers to be aware of a growing scam involving tow truck companies. Chris Stroisch, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) vice president of public affairs & communications, shared with Fox News Digital that they are seeing a "significant spike in predatory tolling in the United States, which has increased 89% in the last three years." "We're seeing predatory towing occurring in cities both large and small. So you're seeing predatory towing occurring in large cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. But you're also seeing it in small communities like Des Moines, Iowa," Stroisch said. Stroisch explained that these predatory towers are "following the money" and will operate wherever they can make the most profit. Alarming Number Of Americans Scammed Out Of Life Savings Have One Thing In Common, Prompting Lawmaker Response "Unfortunately, what we're seeing on our end is that we're hearing a lot of sad stories," Stroisch said. "Predatory towers that are engaging in reckless driving, they're engaging in turf wars even, and there's even been shootings tied to predatory towing that's all leading to very tragic, but avoidable deaths. So it's really just this growing problem that we've seen take off in the last three years in this country." Read On The Fox News App The California Department of Insurance echoed the NICB warning and added that it has seen an uptick happening where some tow truck companies are targeting drivers involved in crashes by picking up their cars and then holding them hostage for large amounts of money. "This type of scam is preying on drivers at their most vulnerable moments—immediately after an accident—when they should be focused on their safety and next steps, not fighting to get their vehicle back," Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement. "Our department is committed to protecting Californians from fraud, and this PSA is an important step in ensuring drivers know the warning signs and how to protect themselves." A spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital that, right now, they are seeing two primary scams. One involves a tow truck driver showing up immediately after a collision occurs and offering to help the other driver by towing their vehicle to a body shop. "Tow drivers show up to accident scenes and misrepresent to the crash victim that they were sent there by the insurance company, when they were in fact not," the agency said. "The suspects steal/tow the victim's vehicle under false pretenses to a body shop or tow yard. They then charge exorbitant fees to the victim or insurance company to release the vehicle." Fbi Warns Of Dangerous New 'Smishing' Scam Targeting Your Phone The second scam the agency said they are seeing is when a tow driver steals personal information from the victim by posing as law enforcement or an insurance company employee. "Suspects contact the crash victim claiming to be an employee of the victim's insurance carrier, indicating they will tow the vehicle to a body shop approved by their insurance company and then steal/tow the vehicle under false pretenses," the California Department of Insurance spokesperson said. Stroisch added that there are two rules of thumb that they tell consumers. "First thing, if you didn't request it, reject it," Stroisch said. "If you're in an accident and a tow truck company shows up on scene that's unsolicited, we tell people to wait for law enforcement to arrive. And then once that tow truck company is on scene, to know as much as you can or know before you tow." The California Department of Insurance shared a few red flags drivers should be aware of to make sure they are not a victim of this type of scam, which include: If a tow truck shows up within minutes of an accident before you have had time to call anyone yet. If a tow truck driver tells you which body shop your car is going to instead of working with you to identify where you want your vehicle to go. If a tow truck driver tells you that someone will contact you by phone or asks you to sign documents. If a tow truck driver requests a rideshare for you. In response to the growing scam trend, the agency said that it has created three law enforcement task forces in Southern California that investigate organized automobile insurance fraud. The task forces are comprised of CDI detectives, investigators from the California Highway Patrol, and investigators from the local district attorney's offices, the agency explained, adding that it manages these task forces. "These task forces work up these crimes, present the case to the district attorney's offices for filing criminal charges, and arrest the suspects. Additionally, we work with other state agencies, such as the Bureau of Automotive Repair, to refer cases for administrative sanctions," the agency said. "We also spend considerable time educating our state and local law enforcement partners to assist us in better recognizing this type of activity, and we have been releasing public service announcements to raise the public's awareness." Holiday Travel Warning: $5M Worth Of Cars Stolen From Major Us Airport By Organized Theft Ring, Report Says According to the department, the Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force has investigated multiple cases, including one that has resulted in the arraignment and charges against 16 Southern California residents. "This task force investigation found the auto fraud ring allegedly conspired together to create fraudulent insurance claims to illegally collect over $216,932," the department said in a statement. "The investigation discovered the large-scale organized auto insurance fraud ring was engaged in multiple types of schemes including holding vehicles hostage and collusive collisions." This same ring, the department shared, was previously charged in a similar scheme stemming from vehicles stolen under false pretenses in San Bernardino County. Stroisch shared that some of these operators are even charging upwards of 10 times the usual cost of a tow, and then are holding the vehicles hostage in the process. "The average cost of a tow is $109, but we're seeing costs that have skyrocketed, and we're seeing costs that are 10, 15, 16, and $17,000 that are just filled with absorbent fees and very vague descriptions of what people are actually paying for all while these vehicles are being held hostage," Stroisch explained. How Scammers Have Sunk To A New Low With An Ai Obituary Scam Targeting The Grieving "If you're in an accident, get as much information as you can about a tow truck company and wait for law enforcement to arrive first." While tow truck scams are nothing new, the California Department of Insurance said they are on the rise, increasing by over 1,500 reports since 2023. "We do not have stats specific to this type of scam, but in 2024, CDI received 13,870 referrals of suspected automobile insurance fraud from insurance companies, government agencies and the public, which increased from 2023, where we received 12,363," the department shared. The department said it is urging any drivers that believe they may be in a situation like this to verify the tow truck with their insurance company or wait for CHP to verify the tow truck was dispatched by CHP, adding to also not sign any documents until you have talked to their insurance company. Stroisch said one of the biggest things that the bureau is seeing right now is the lack of laws and the lack of policies in some cities and states. "Every state, every municipality is different, and some states have laws against predatory towing. They have laws that require licensing of tow truck companies. They have laws that require transparency around fee schedules, but there are many cities and states that don't," Stroisch explained. "So I think that from an NICB standpoint, we would recommend all lawmakers at every level, work together to put measures in place to help prevent this." Stroisch suggested that banning accident scene solicitations is one example of how predatory towing can be thwarted. "That's where a lot of this is occurring. These tow truck companies that just show up on scene, so ban accident scene solicitation in the first place. So we are really encouraging lawmakers to work together to pass legislation. "We are currently monitoring 107 different bills in 37 states that are all tied to predatory towing. So to have that many bills that are in some stage, it's just showing the problem that we're seeing right now."Original article source: American drivers warned about red flags to avoid 'predatory towing' targeting motorists across US
Fox News
14-04-2025
- Fox News
American drivers warned about red flags to avoid ‘predatory towing' targeting motorists across US
Victims of car collisions may have more to worry about as insurance companies warn drivers to be aware of a growing scam involving tow truck companies. Chris Stroisch, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) vice president of public affairs & communications, shared with Fox News Digital that they are seeing a "significant spike in predatory tolling in the United States, which has increased 89% in the last three years." "We're seeing predatory towing occurring in cities both large and small. So you're seeing predatory towing occurring in large cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. But you're also seeing it in small communities like Des Moines, Iowa," Stroisch said. Stroisch explained that these predatory towers are "following the money" and will operate wherever they can make the most profit. "Unfortunately, what we're seeing on our end is that we're hearing a lot of sad stories," Stroisch said. "Predatory towers that are engaging in reckless driving, they're engaging in turf wars even, and there's even been shootings tied to predatory towing that's all leading to very tragic, but avoidable deaths. So it's really just this growing problem that we've seen take off in the last three years in this country." The California Department of Insurance echoed the NICB warning and added that it has seen an uptick happening where some tow truck companies are targeting drivers involved in crashes by picking up their cars and then holding them hostage for large amounts of money. "This type of scam is preying on drivers at their most vulnerable moments—immediately after an accident—when they should be focused on their safety and next steps, not fighting to get their vehicle back," Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement. "Our department is committed to protecting Californians from fraud, and this PSA is an important step in ensuring drivers know the warning signs and how to protect themselves." A spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital that, right now, they are seeing two primary scams. One involves a tow truck driver showing up immediately after a collision occurs and offering to help the other driver by towing their vehicle to a body shop. "Tow drivers show up to accident scenes and misrepresent to the crash victim that they were sent there by the insurance company, when they were in fact not," the agency said. "The suspects steal/tow the victim's vehicle under false pretenses to a body shop or tow yard. They then charge exorbitant fees to the victim or insurance company to release the vehicle." The second scam the agency said they are seeing is when a tow driver steals personal information from the victim by posing as law enforcement or an insurance company employee. "Suspects contact the crash victim claiming to be an employee of the victim's insurance carrier, indicating they will tow the vehicle to a body shop approved by their insurance company and then steal/tow the vehicle under false pretenses," the California Department of Insurance spokesperson said. Stroisch added that there are two rules of thumb that they tell consumers. "First thing, if you didn't request it, reject it," Stroisch said. "If you're in an accident and a tow truck company shows up on scene that's unsolicited, we tell people to wait for law enforcement to arrive. And then once that tow truck company is on scene, to know as much as you can or know before you tow." The California Department of Insurance shared a few red flags drivers should be aware of to make sure they are not a victim of this type of scam, which include: In response to the growing scam trend, the agency said that it has created three law enforcement task forces in Southern California that investigate organized automobile insurance fraud. The task forces are comprised of CDI detectives, investigators from the California Highway Patrol, and investigators from the local district attorney's offices, the agency explained, adding that it manages these task forces. "These task forces work up these crimes, present the case to the district attorney's offices for filing criminal charges, and arrest the suspects. Additionally, we work with other state agencies, such as the Bureau of Automotive Repair, to refer cases for administrative sanctions," the agency said. "We also spend considerable time educating our state and local law enforcement partners to assist us in better recognizing this type of activity, and we have been releasing public service announcements to raise the public's awareness." According to the department, the Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force has investigated multiple cases, including one that has resulted in the arraignment and charges against 16 Southern California residents. "This task force investigation found the auto fraud ring allegedly conspired together to create fraudulent insurance claims to illegally collect over $216,932," the department said in a statement. "The investigation discovered the large-scale organized auto insurance fraud ring was engaged in multiple types of schemes including holding vehicles hostage and collusive collisions." This same ring, the department shared, was previously charged in a similar scheme stemming from vehicles stolen under false pretenses in San Bernardino County. Stroisch shared that some of these operators are even charging upwards of 10 times the usual cost of a tow, and then are holding the vehicles hostage in the process. "The average cost of a tow is $109, but we're seeing costs that have skyrocketed, and we're seeing costs that are 10, 15, 16, and $17,000 that are just filled with absorbent fees and very vague descriptions of what people are actually paying for all while these vehicles are being held hostage," Stroisch explained. "If you're in an accident, get as much information as you can about a tow truck company and wait for law enforcement to arrive first." While tow truck scams are nothing new, the California Department of Insurance said they are on the rise, increasing by over 1,500 reports since 2023. "We do not have stats specific to this type of scam, but in 2024, CDI received 13,870 referrals of suspected automobile insurance fraud from insurance companies, government agencies and the public, which increased from 2023, where we received 12,363," the department shared. The department said it is urging any drivers that believe they may be in a situation like this to verify the tow truck with their insurance company or wait for CHP to verify the tow truck was dispatched by CHP, adding to also not sign any documents until you have talked to their insurance company. Stroisch said one of the biggest things that the bureau is seeing right now is the lack of laws and the lack of policies in some cities and states. "Every state, every municipality is different, and some states have laws against predatory towing. They have laws that require licensing of tow truck companies. They have laws that require transparency around fee schedules, but there are many cities and states that don't," Stroisch explained. "So I think that from an NICB standpoint, we would recommend all lawmakers at every level, work together to put measures in place to help prevent this." Stroisch suggested that banning accident scene solicitations is one example of how predatory towing can be thwarted. "That's where a lot of this is occurring. These tow truck companies that just show up on scene, so ban accident scene solicitation in the first place. So we are really encouraging lawmakers to work together to pass legislation. "We are currently monitoring 107 different bills in 37 states that are all tied to predatory towing. So to have that many bills that are in some stage, it's just showing the problem that we're seeing right now." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
