Viral Dashcam TikTok Exposes NYC Man’s Fraud in Staged Car Crash Scheme!
A New York City man has been charged with insurance fraud after allegedly staging a car crash in Queens, a case that drew wide attention on social media after the victim posted dashcam footage of the incident on TikTok.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the 28-year-old Brooklyn man was a passenger in a car involved in the staged crash. Prosecutors say the driver of a silver Honda Civic deliberately cut off another car on the Belt Parkway and then backed into it, damaging both vehicles.
The defendant and the others in the Honda reportedly forced the unsuspecting driver to stop in the left lane before ramming her vehicle. Katz called this act “incredibly reckless,” adding that it put many lives at risk.
The victim, Asphia Natasha, was driving north on the Belt Parkway on October 16 when the Honda cut her off and abruptly stopped in front of her car.
According to prosecutors, Natasha braked to avoid a collision, but the driver of the Honda backed into her vehicle, causing damage to both cars.
The incident, captured on Natasha’s dashboard camera, was later posted on TikTok, where it has since gone viral with millions of views.
The video shows the Honda occupants holding up what looked like a plastic tarp, which partially blocked Natasha’s view of the car’s interior. Prosecutors also say that during this time, the people in the Honda switched seats inside the vehicle, likely to confuse the victim.
Four people left the Honda after the crash. The 28-year-old Brooklyn man, who prosecutors believe was a backseat passenger, was arrested Thursday after he returned to New York on a flight from Ecuador. The other three people involved in the crash are still being sought.
The man has been arraigned on multiple charges, including staging a motor vehicle accident, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and insurance fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Authorities have contacted his attorney for comment.
This case highlights the risks and potential dangers of insurance fraud schemes on public roads, where the reckless actions of a few can endanger the lives of many.