CHICAGO (CBS) – CBS 2 has reported on how rogue tow truck companies have preyed on people in car accidents.
They listen to police scanners and show up to tow the car involved for an exorbitant fee. Sometimes, victims never get their cars back.
CBS 2 has learned one person might be behind multiple scheming tow truck companies by simply rebranding the business.
“It’s heartless, to go out, see people in a vulnerable situation and go and make their bad situation worse,” said Dion Conley, a victim of the scheme.
Conley has been without a car for about three years, ever since his car was towed after an accident and never returned.
“[They] said that $11,000 stands and that they want the money or else the vehicle won’t be released,” Conley said.
At the time, the company was called Tow Pros Inc., he added. It was a corporation registered with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office to Mikel Warren, a person who seemingly has opened and closed multiple tow companies: Tow Pros Inc., Tows R Us Inc., Take Me Home Towing, and Perfect Time Towing.