The Coquitlam RCMP is cautioning residents to be on the look out for what they are calling "parking lot fraud."
Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said police have seen several incidents in the Tri-Cities where a suspect approaches a motorist in a busy parking lot, smacks the back of their car and makes a noise, before claiming they have been hit. The suspect will then pressure the driver to give them cash instead of calling ICBC.
"You smack their car, you make some noise and you claim to be hit all with the goal of making a quick easy settlement and walking away with some cash," he said. "They are trying to get something for nothing."
Police believe the suspects are targeting people of Asian decent or new Canadians that may not be familiar with the ICBC system, McLaughlin said.
The amounts that the scammers ask for range from a few dollars to as much as $200, he added.
While charges have not been laid, McLaughlin said investigators have a pretty good idea of who is behind the incidents that occurred in the Tri-Cities.
Still, he added that similar incidents have occurred in other jurisdictions, like Burnaby and Richmond, and it is important to warn the public in case similar frauds are carried out by other people.
"This is consistent with the way frauds and scams work," he said. "There are very few brand new scams. Usually it is a variation of something."
Dash cam footage can protect someone against parking lot fraud, but the best way to defend against the scam is to initiate the ICBC process, McLaughlin said.
"Even if it is a minor claim, you can start the claim and decide later if you want to settle it privately," he said. "If you are dealing with a scammer… they are probably not going to want to trade the appropriate information. That little step can really help you out."
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