Authorities are searching for the scammers who targeted Eaton fire victims by fraudulently towing their cars and demanding excessive fees to reclaim them.
In the initial days of the Eaton fire, between Jan. 7-10, fake tow companies claiming to be contracted by the city of Altadena would tow the vehicles of evacuated victims under false pretenses before forcing them to pay high fees to retrieve their cars.
Some of the stolen cars were stored in Riverside or San Bernardino County.
David Gueringer, an Altadena resident, lost his garage and guest home to the Eaton fire that ignited on Jan. 7.
“I went to sleep thinking we had really dodged the worst of the fire and been fortunate in that way,” Gueringer said.
While his home was evacuated, Gueringer received a call from a towing company claiming to be working with the city. They had offered to tow away vehicles left in the fire zone for safety reasons, including Gueringer’s Chevy Tahoe SUV and Prius sedan.
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A county task force is searching for the scammers who targeted Eaton fire victims by fraudulently towing their cars and holding them for ransom. (L.A. County) -
Authorities are searching for the scammers who targeted Eaton fire victims by fraudulently towing their cars and holding them for ransom. (KTLA) -
FILE – David Slater, right, clears the driveway from his home, spared from the Eaton Fire, Jan. 12, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) -
Debris from a destroyed home is seen as a newly built ADU (accessory dwelling unit) stands behind after surviving the Eaton Fire, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) -
A lone home stands among residences levelled by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) -
FILE – A firefighter tries to extinguish flames at a burning apartment building during the Eaton Fire, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) -
Authorities are searching for the scammers who targeted Eaton fire victims by fraudulently towing their cars and holding them for ransom. (L.A. County)
“They gave what sounded like a plausible story, saying, ‘We’ve been contracted by Los Angeles to remove vehicles from people’s driveways so they don’t burn, to remove objects that might contribute to the fire,’” Gueringer recalled.
Gueringer agreed to have his cars towed. Days later, however, he discovered it was a scam after his insurance company told him that the towing company was demanding excessive fees to release his two vehicles.
“They said they had charged them about $3,000 to get one of the cars out,” he said. “This raised red flags, so they looked up their license or credential and they didn’t have one.”
To make matters worse, the towing bandits had also put a lien on his Prius. Gueringer said he was thankful his insurance company stepped in to help, but authorities believe there could be more victims who didn’t realize they were conned.
A task force was launched by county officials to investigate the bandit towing companies. The scammers are believed to be based in the Inland Empire.
“We know by virtue of experiencing this fire, that there’s a lot of scams, a lot of predatory behavior and a lot of opportunistic behavior happening,” Gueringer said.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is asking victims to come forward if they believe they were targeted by scammers.
“I find it disgusting that these fraudulent tow operators exploited fire survivors during their time of distress,” Barger said. “Those behind this abhorrent scheme must be held accountable and brought to justice. I urge anyone who was victimized to come forward so we can stop these bad actors from preying on our communities.”
Some warning signs that victims may have experienced include:
- The tow company contacted you and said they were contracted by the City to tow your vehicle
- They asked you to send them a photo of your driver’s license
- They towed your vehicles and did not inform you of the storage location
- Once the vehicle is located, the tow company asks for a large amount of money to release the vehicle
Anyone who suspects they are a victim should contact Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force’s Sgt. Regina Garay at 909-919-2242.
