Officials warn of tow-truck scam targeting Eaton Fire victims

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Local officials are sounding the alarm on another scam targeting victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.

This time, predatory tow-truck operators are towing fire victims' cars and then holding them for exorbitant fees.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is now urging Eaton Fire survivors to come forward if they were targeted by fraudulent tow companies. The California Department of Insurance has also set up a task force investigating the scam that stretches from the Inland Empire to Altadena.

The deceptive operators falsely claim to be contracted by Altadena officials and then proceed to tow vehicles without informing owners of the storage location, according to Barger's office.

The tow company representatives would allegedly demand excessive fees to release the cars. Some of the vehicles were stored in the Inland Empire.

The scam targeted victims between Jan. 7-10.

"I find it disgusting that these fraudulent tow operators exploited fire survivors during their time of distress," Barger said in a statement. "Those behind this abhorrent scheme must be held accountable and brought to justice."

David Gueringer and Ursula Knudson are among the victims of the scam.

"They said they were a towing company that was contracted by the city of L.A. to take away vehicles to remove burnable debris," Gueringer said.

When the couple's insurance company tried to track down the vehicles, they realized they had been targeted.

"There were a couple of times they couldn't locate them, and when they finally did, they realized they were being held for ransom," Gueringer said. "They had to pay $3,000 or something for one of the cars. We don't know how much for the other."

For Gueringer and Knudson, the scam went one step further. The suspect put a lien on their Prius.

"I realized they wanted the cars. It's complicated," Knudson said of the scam. "It would be impressive if it wasn't so awful."

Anyone who suspects they were a victim of the scam can contact the Inland Empire Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force at (909) 919-2242 for assistance.