Anybody hear anything about a type of scam claiming hit-and-run

[woodsprite]

and they supposedly have pictures?

Our daughter (28yo) and a family friend (72) went to a neighboring town Thursday night for handbell practice. Rehearsal is from 7:30-9pm. Apparently someone called our friend's husband and went full "Karen" on him over the phone yesterday about how the car with a man driving it committed a hit-and-run on her and she has a picture. It was on a kind of obscure street around 9pm, not a usual way home, but possible to use if there is traffic or a detour. No traffic cams on that road. The lady reported it to the police Monday, but it supposedly happened last Thursday (so 4 days lag in reporting it). The police came out to our friend's house yesterday, looked at the car (no damage). Neither my daughter or our friend look like a guy. Friend nor police have seen the photo the lady said to have taken AND daughter said they were not on that road, nor did they come close to 'hitting' any other car when driving home.

My friend let the other people in the handbell group and my daughter know that they may be getting a call from the police since she gave them several contacts.

Seems really weird and more like some kind of scam to me, but I can't figure out how they could get anything out of it.

[Lars39]

1. How did the police know to come to her house?

Did pic include license plate? Were cops checking out every make of that car? This all sounds like it was the police generating the problem.

[woodsprite]

4. The lady got their address and phone number, called them to ream

our friend's husband out. I guess when she called the police to report the hit-and-run, she gave them our friend's address and contact info.

[Lars39]

6. So she knew your friends?

[Thomas Hurt]

2. I gathered this and other forms of vehicular scams are or were big in Russia...

that may just be urban myth, not sure. The story goes that it is or was such a problem that most everyone in Russia who drives has a camera in their car to CYA.

[Marthe48]

3. How did the person get the phone number?

If it were me, if the police know the name of the person who complained, I'd like to know how they got my number. Good idea to let the other bell ringers know, in case someone connected to the group has access to phone numbers.

[Binkie The Clown]

5. That happened to a friend of mine many years ago.

He ended up losing the case in court. They had three "witnesses" and his only witness was his sleeping 5 year old son.
For him, he made the mistake of driving a very expense, flashy sports car. I guess they spotted an easy mark.