AN auto shop owner was found to be duping customers after a sting operation revealed his unfair practices.
The mechanic was charging thousands of dollars for small services at the car shop.
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Jairon Escobar, the owner of Radiator & Body Parts, has been charged with insurance fraud after lying about how much simple repairs would cost, as reported by a local California news outlet, KRON.
After an undercover investigator brought in a “bait car” to the San Jose body shop, Escobar tried to up-charge the officer.
The undercover officer from the Organized Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force showed up at the body shop with a Toyota Camry.
The organization investigates instances of coordinated schemes that dupe unsuspecting customers out of their money.
There are many types of organized auto insurance fraud including staged accidents, falsified injuries, or vehicle hostage schemes.
One of the most common scams is false reporting.
Auto shops that make up false claims about the severity of an auto issue end up costing customers way more than they expected to pay.
Customers are given false information about their car to jack up the out-of-pocket for repairs that aren’t covered by insurance.
The investigator wanted to see how much the owner would charge him to fix a single dent in the front fender.
“Escobar encouraged the undercover officer to tell the insurance company that there was more than $3,000 in damages to the vehicle,” the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office wrote to KRON.
“Escobar submitted the vehicle estimate of repairs to Mercury Insurance.”
The auto shop owner was arraigned Tuesday and is now facing insurance fraud charges that could result in serious time behind bars.
District Attorney Jess Rosen warned that this could happen to any auto shop owner who deceives consumers.
“To body shop owners that choose illegal profits over honest work, know this: an undercover officer could be your next customer,” Rosen said.
How to avoid being scammed at the repair shop
Motorautocar and the AARP have east-to-follow tips to avoid being scammed by a repair shop.
- Motorautocar suggests asking to see parts that have been replaced or to see old fluids after they were swapped. If the shop says that’s impossible or refuses, it could be a sign it wasn’t done.
- Ask for a walkaround of the repairs that were done. Most mechanics are happy to show you what was done in the shop. While being walked around, look for evidence of repairs like the area being cleaned off, shiny new parts, tool marks on the bolts, tools being out or nearby, etc.
- Before taking your car in, look at other customer reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many customers only review a company if they have negative reviews, so keep an eye out.
- For costly repairs, consider getting multiple opinions. If two to three shops suggest identical repairs, it’s likely to be true.
- Test a new shop with minor issues you’re aware of to see if they add anything to the repair bill.
- If applicable, bring someone to the shop who knows about cars to have them double-check or read a repair bill.
- Get everything on paper. Not only is it important for your repair records, but it can help protect you if legal measures are necessary.
Source: Motorautocar, AARP
“Fraud isn’t worth your freedom. Auto insurance fraud drives up premiums and hits drivers in their wallets.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that odometer fraud, insurance fraud, and dealership scams are costing US customers billions of dollars annually.
The agency estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles with inaccurate details or specifications are sold each year.
In February, the California Department of Insurance issued a press release warning consumers about a major vehicle hostage scam across Southern California.
In this case, tow trucks would offer to take a car to the body shop immediately after an accident where the driver was forced to pay a large amount of money to get their vehicle back.
Drivers who believe they might be victims of an auto scam were encouraged to reach out to California Highway Patrol and verify towing company information before surrendering a vehicle.
