Predatory towing leads to fraud charges against 11 Edmonton company owners – Edmonton [Video]

Months after a warning was issued about unethical predatory towing practices in Edmonton, police have laid fraud charges against several local tow truck operators.

The Edmonton Police Service on Wednesday said it had charged 11 owners of 10 local tow truck companies in relation to fraudulent billing practices to insurance companies.

Last summer, police began investigating the business practices of tow truck companies that were allegedly demanding people to use their services at the scenes of collisions.

The  Alberta Motor Association (AMA) also issued a warning about predatory towing this past winter. The AMA said unethical operators will arrive at a collision or breakdown scene uninvited, create a false sense of urgency to move the vehicle, and ultimately leave drivers facing huge fees.

The association said until 2024, tow truck “accident chasers” were virtually non-existent. But then, last summer, the province saw a sharp increase in complaints — Edmonton and Calgary in particular.

The AMA said it’s important to know your …