What is the Purpose of this Scam?
 

I've had my 1987 Turbo insured with American Collectors since about 2007.

Today someone, not me, put in a change of address in my name and with my policy number, for that car and a rep from AC called me to ask where the car was going to be stored as the new address was an apartment . . . this was left as a voice message, and before returning the call I verified that the number and extension number were legit (plus the agent did not ask me for any personal info or anything else that is inappropriate).

I told her that I had not requested a change of address and that I still live at the same residence (she had all of that info right in front of her).

She said that she did not comply with the request due to the apartment detail of it, and had never heard of such a thing happening.

Anybody here experience similar? What is to be gained by impersonating someone and making an address change to a classic car policy? I don't get it.

Weird and interesting. I can only imagine fraud. Claim you had the car, claim the car was stolen or burned or something and try to get a claim?

Following to find out what the scam is.

^^^

I had not even considered that fraud angle - very interesting.

There's not even a google article about that, just general change of address scams to intercept your mail.

We live in such a suck time. I hate it.

Vicki and I had a discussion about that a day or two ago. We agree. Suck time, we hate it.

Do you think they were trying to prepare for a phony claim? It might not be a bad idea to get a new policy number.

How would they get your policy number ?

Cancel policy after a week of new period, cash refund check?

IMO this is not about you personally or your car. They could be "creating paper" so they can steal your identity.

With the right ID documents it would take them about 5 minutes to get a new credit card with a 6k limit on line. This card is sent to the new address and then they go shopping. The apartment could be an address which they have access to the mail box only. They may even know the occupants who are in on the deal.

Whatever the reasons/methods/whatever, they're up to no good and smaller crimes like this rarely gain the interest of the FBI or the Secret Service etc. Personally I'd report activity like this to your state police. That way there's an official record of what happened. They may tell you to go away but I'd still try to report it.

Or could it be a way to see if you still have the vehicle and confirm it's location? Is it in a locked garage? I'd add some extra security measures.

They illegally bought the active customer data base from an insider or it's all done by an insider with a VPN. Can't be certain but possible.

First thing that popped into my mind.

They know you are still there.

American Collectors usually sends out a renewal notice 30 days or so before the due date-I get mine via unsecure email, and in the past it was usps, so I guess its accessible. Or they have access to the DMV database where in some states you tell them who your insurance is.
Or...really bad, they rifled your car and found the proof of insurance.

I recently heard a commercial on the SXM Fox News channel about something called "Home Title Lock" or something like that. The commercial explained how someone could steal the title to you house and use it to get loans or even sell your house without you knowing. People can be down right low down to do that to someone.
Today at work, I got in a vehicle and started my tests, got the paperwork and found a form on the passenger seat where someone had a pre-employment drug test performed a few days ago. This form had the persons SSN, date of birth, phone number, full name and even their signature on it. After completing my stint around the track I got with my group leader and he got in touch with HR to see about returning the form to the person. Unbelievable that someone would be so careless with their personal information.

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This is what I was thinking.

Are you sure the call was from American Collectors? I get an instant suspicion with cold calls these days.

I think it’s best I buy your car ASAP. I’m a little short on cash, so it won’t be ideal.

"Please sent the entire refund check to this busted-open mailbox in a dirty apartment complex."

"Actually, please send a couple hundred of them this month. "
A stack each day.
Or a couple hundred thousand individual checks sent over a year.
Again and again.
Every single day.

The USPS:
With it's diversity delivery personnel has zero obligation to notice or report fraud.
They don't notice nothing.
Neither does the boss.

The bank gets automatically reimbursed for fraud. The [unknown] scammers get paid by the US Government. Nobody every gets fired or prosecuted. Money is free.

The call was from American Collectors - I was suspicious as well, so confirmed the contact info both before and after I returned the call. And like I mentioned, the agent did not ask me anything that was out of line (such as payment info or anything like that). When we hung up, I called AC at another number, got the exact same automated greeting menu, and also got the same person when I dialed her extension.

I don't know how the policy number was obtained, but like Bob said, was probably sold illegally, maybe by a former employee.

Car is well secured, including ignition disabled.

The fraud ideas you guys mentioned are really interesting - bet it is something like that.

I'm going to keep a watch on my insurance info and see if there is any activity in the coming days. I also had the thought mentioned above about maybe a good idea to get a new policy number; maybe I should call back about that.

Ha ha Steve - not for sale, bro! :D

Thanks, Aussie Orange! You are welcome to hit it whenever you visit from OZ (no homo, of course! :eek:). Smart call on the identity theft angle - will keep an eye on that.

Check for charges on your cc accounts.
It’s not uncommon for someone to clone a card and change the address so you don’t see the bill as they are running it up.

^^^ Will do. I only have one CC so that will be easy. I'll also keep even closer watch on all of my banking activity that is not CC related.