Columbus residents cautioned about ‘brake checking' and staged accident risks

Yahoo

26-03-2025

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A warning about a specific type of staged auto accident, sometimes referred to as brake checking, has gained much attention after being posted on social media.
The notice, which appeared on Nextdoor, quickly received several reactions and comments, with others acknowledging they had experienced similar situations.
'Beware! Brake checkers trying to cause intentional accidents on 670E and exited on Leonard Ave.,' the site member wrote.
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When someone asked, 'What are brake checkers?' another answered, 'They pull in front of you fast from an adjacent lane then brake.'
'That's exactly what happened to me,' a person echoed on the platform. 'They zipped past me, pulled in front and braked hard.'
Another commenter described a highly suspicious accident they believed was most likely perpetrated by fraudsters.
'I had one get me at a light by stopping super fast at the green, and it was in a right curve,' the commenter wrote. 'I was looking and paying attention just didn't react fast enough, and they literally gave me a notebook (opened already to a blank page) & a pen; as soon as they jumped out of the car: I'm like nope I'm calling the law, THEY BOUNCED OUT SO FAST!'
'Thank you for the public notice,' said a grateful reader. 'Reminds me to put my dash cam in already!'
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a not-for-profit that educates about insurance crimes, refers to the scenario as the 'swoop-and-squat,' which can include additional vehicles driven by the criminals.
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'The driver of the 'squat' vehicle pulls in front of the victim's car,' the organization explains on its website. 'The driver of the 'swoop' vehicle pulls in front of the squat vehicle, causing the driver of the squat vehicle to hit his brakes. The victim cannot react in time and rear-ends the squat vehicle. The swoop vehicle races off and is not seen again. The victim then typically is responsible for any vehicle damage and personal injury to passengers in the squat vehicle.'
The group also noted that, when on the highway, the swoop-and-squat can involve three cars driven by bad actors. One auto is used to pin the victim in their lane while another person slams on the brakes in front of the unsuspecting driver.
The NICB recommends a few points to avoid becoming a victim of a staged accident, including:
Avoid tailgating.
Always call the police to an accident scene.
Document damage and the number of occupants in the other vehicles with cellphone photos.
Avoid people who suddenly appear and suggest specific doctors and attorneys. These people are called 'runners' and 'cappers.'
Be suspicious of tow trucks that show up when not called for service. They are often 'cappers' for body shops.
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