A popular community navigation app used by millions of drivers, Waze lets you report an accident, a breakdown, or a vehicle stuck in the hard shoulder in just a few taps. While this feature makes traffic flow and safety easier, it has also become a boon for "pirate tow truck drivers." The latter constantly monitor the alerts issued on the application, as explained in the TF1 news. As soon as an incident is reported, they rush to the scene, often well before the arrival of authorized breakdown recovery services, mandated by the highway control center or the police.
"They are on Waze all the time. As soon as there is a broken down vehicle, it is displayed. As soon as there is an accident vehicle, it is displayed. As soon as there is a traffic jam... They go there directly and they help themselves," explains Eric Maigné, manager of a breakdown service in Pluguffan (Finistère). And the problem has existed for many months: "These breakdown service providers monitor all broken down vehicles via alerts on Waze. They are posted at certain strategic locations and as soon as they see that, they arrive," Luc Le Baron, vice-president of the breakdown assistance branch of the Mobilians professional union, already indicated on Sud Radio last year. Note that applications similar to Waze can also be targeted.
Salty bills and stolen companies
The trap closes when the motorist, relieved to see help arrive, accepts the intervention without checking the identity of the repairman. The bill, however, arrives later and can reach several thousand euros, with unjustified additional charges, such as truck cleaning or overcharged security services. "I've seen packages that are added, with truck cleaning at 50 euros. They take advantage of the customer's stress," regrets Luc Le Baron. He adds that he has seen bills reaching 3000 to 3,500 euros or 300 euros for three days of storage, three times the usual rate. The problem: these interventions are generally not reimbursed by insurance, which only covers official breakdown services.
To appear more credible, some scammers even usurp the name and identification number of recognized breakdown recovery companies. "It's a person who pretended to be someone from our company in the Paris region, but it's not us, obviously. We are only based in Pluguffan until now," says Elisabeth, a secretary in a family business in Finistère. The phenomenon is particularly widespread in large cities such as Paris, Marseille or Toulouse, and during big holiday departures.
How to avoid the trap?
Faced with In the face of this wave of scams, professionals recommend the utmost vigilance and to refuse any intervention from a repairman who arrives spontaneously, especially if he arrives well before the announced deadline. In addition, you should always verify the identity of the repairman and the company by comparing it with the information provided by your insurance or law enforcement. Please note that approved breakdown recovery vehicles can only be dispatched by the motorway control centre or the police on a motorway or dual carriageway.
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