--- title: "Clown Car of Idiots Tries Insurance Fraud Crash, Thwarted by Dash Cam" date: "2024-10-20" modified: "2024-10-20" authors: - name: "Beverly Braga" job_title: "Weekend Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/beverly-braga" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/clown-car-of-idiots-tries-insurance-fraud-crash-thwarted-by-dash-cam" categories: - "News" tags: - "Crash" - "Dash Cam" - "Dashcam" - "scam" --- # Clown Car of Idiots Tries Insurance Fraud Crash, Thwarted by Dash Cam ![]() *\@ashpianatasha4 via TikTok\* With the advent of car insurance [scams](), dash cams have become a popular buy. In New York, a dash cam owner learns just how important a purchase it was when a would-be insurance fraudster attempts to cause a car crash. When he fails, he reverses his vehicle into his victim's car to create the intended collision damage. And it was all caught on video. Lately, [dash cams have become a need-to-have]() versus a nice-to-have in-car item. Market research firm [Mordor Intelligence]() says the dashboard camera market is a $4.5-billion business—and growing. Although cool for capturing the occasional [drifiting Amish buggy](), hovering [UAP](), or hot-stepping [Bigfoot](), dash cams mostly record vehicle crashes. The term dash cam is a misnomer nowadays, too, since vehicle cameras are not only placed on the dashboard but on the windshield and even the rear window. This was the case with Ashpia Natasha, who has installed a front and rear camera in her [Acura]() crossover. Both cameras were recording at the time of the crash, which occurred on the Belt Parkway in Queens, New York. After watching what was captured in both videos, she learns just how elaborate the attempted scam was. According to [*Complex*](), Natasha was traveling on the three-lane parkway through Queens when a silver [Honda Civic]() cut over from the middle lane. Its driver immediately brake checks, but Natasha avoided the crash. Plan B, thinks the [Civic driver](). He pulls forward as if to leave the scene, but doesn't. Instead, he slams on the throttle and backs straight into Natasha's Acura. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1W62ASivR4 The entire thing was a set-up from the beginning. For instance, four occupants (two males, two females) exited the [Honda](), but none from the driver's seat. In performances deserving of a Razzie, three of them acted as if suffering from headaches or some sort of feverish temperature. The last person to exit the vehicle was a male, who is seen moving from the driver's seat to the front passenger one. Natasha's post shows him exiting the Civic at the [0:45 mark](). However, unlike the other Honda occupants, the driver's face never appears on camera. He might not have even turned around toward Natasha. But he does methodically walk toward a red [Kia Sportage]() that had pulled over and parked in front of the Civic. After he gets in, the [Kia]() drives off. While this was occurring, the other three persons of interest kept busy by taking photos of the damaged vehicles, talking amongst themselves, and continuing to feign pained foreheads or toothaches. Eventually, though, the remaining male notices Natasha's front dash cam, is stunned at the realization, and turns away as if he's seen the boogeyman. And maybe he has. Natasha has posted several [TikToks]() about the incident, including the clear and crisp HD [dash cam footage](). The failed insurance scam happened only a couple of days ago, so Natasha is still waiting on her [auto insurer's]() response to the police paperwork. She said that, according to the NYPD, she cannot press charges until she hears back from the insurance company. Natasha and her husband plan to report insurance fraud as well as press charges for the hit-and-run and vehicular assault. ## Author Born and raised in Hawaii, Beverly has been a prolific and published creative writer since her teens. As a contributor to The Drive, Beverly covers the weekend shift, blogging about all things automotive, mobility, transportation, and topics in-between. Currently a digital nomad, Beverly's only constant is her car, a second-generation Mazdaspeed3. Even though she's never in one place for too long, her hot hatch always feels like home. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()