So, I get this random email from someone saying that I hit her car almost a month ago and that she wants my insurance info, money for the damages, or is going to go to the police. She claims a witness in a private parking lot (institute building) saw me or my car (not sure which they are claiming) hit that car and then leave. She got my email from the secretary of that building who had it on file and contacted me. I own the car with my partner. I didn't hit anything; he says he didn't. So, we are not really sure what to do. Any advice is appreciated. Is it best to get the police involved, contact our insurance company, or what

11/19/2012 12:48:39 AM

Why would they target you? Who regularly drives the car around this institute building?

11/19/2012 12:56:36 AM

set up a meeting with the car owner who supposedly got her car damaged to exchange cash instead of insurance information. Then post an ad on craigslist in her name ("hi boys, my name is Margret...") saying she sucks a mad dick only if the man will let it be filmed from the waist down. Set the dick sucking for the same time and place as the cash exchange

Hopefully she will get approached by a bunch of grinning fat hirsute slobs.

[Edited on November 19, 2012 at 1:00 AM. Reason : ]]

[Edited on November 19, 2012 at 1:04 AM. Reason : clearer]

11/19/2012 12:57:03 AM

We both drive the car around there actually, but it's entirely possible that said "witness" saw someone else with a similar car or who looked like me or my partner. They do not have the tag number.

11/19/2012 1:02:34 AM

do it faggot!! for the LULZ.

this is clearly someone fishing for free cash. if it were legit, they would just have let their insurance company deal with it or already called the police.

11/19/2012 1:07:48 AM

I have a witness that you lit my kittens on fire. I have the charred kittens' remains to prove it.

I want your address, money for the brutal killings, or I will go to the police.

What kind of Mickey Mouse bullshit is this?

Email back and tell them to fuck off (IF INDEED your car was not involved), and dare them to call the whoever they want to.

11/19/2012 1:48:04 AM

just deny it. she really can't do anything.

11/19/2012 3:11:37 AM

^^Exactly, if they had any proof whatsoever they'd have called the police. A "witness" won't hold up without any solid evidence, and its a pretty common scam to do stuff like this and try to get "hush" money.

You could always call the police yourself and file a report that they're trying to extort you, certainly can't hurt. Do NOT meet the people and do not talk to them. Also bitch the hell out of that secretary for giving out your personal information without consent.

11/19/2012 3:11:42 AM

Before you flip them off, you have to be 100% sure your car was not involved. Make sure your partner is telling the truth. Put him in a bear trap and leave him in it for an hour. See if he changes his tune.

Needless to say, if your car was involved, I would hope that you would be honest enough to do the right thing, even if no one saw you.

11/19/2012 4:19:48 AM

Quote :

"You could always call the police yourself and file a report that they're trying to extort you, certainly can't hurt. Do NOT meet the people and do not talk to them. Also bitch the hell out of that secretary for giving out your personal information without consent. "

+1

Quote :

"Needless to say, if your car was involved, I would hope that you would be honest enough to do the right thing, even if no one saw you. "

+1

[Edited on November 19, 2012 at 4:44 AM. Reason : .]

11/19/2012 4:44:13 AM

dear sir or madam,

i did not damage your car. if you contact me any further it will be considered harassment and extortion. i also will contact the proper authorities.

good day

[Edited on November 19, 2012 at 6:51 AM. Reason : a]

11/19/2012 6:50:07 AM

^^
If you wanted shit to get REAL - you could sue the company or building management company that staffs the secretary for not guarding your personal information, as I view that as a serious security breach.

11/19/2012 8:11:33 AM

Are you sure the building secretary actually gave out your information and they are not just saying that?

11/19/2012 8:28:53 AM

ignore it. don't talk to them or the police.

11/19/2012 8:47:38 AM

yea, I wouldn't give them any money. Sounds like a scam to extort people money.

11/19/2012 9:50:03 AM

definitely a scam. don't talk to them or respond to them in any way.

speak to someone at your building in charge of the secretary that gave out your personal information. they should NOT do that under any circumstance.

11/19/2012 9:58:56 AM

they may NOT have done that

11/19/2012 10:12:43 AM

ignore them...don't respond at all

print out the email and ask the secretary if she did indeed give your information

have you checked your car for any new damage or something like paint on your bumper?

in any case, without some sort of actual evidence (video surveillance from parking lot cameras):

Quote :

"she really can't do anything."

11/19/2012 10:40:03 AM

I also would not respond. This is, of course, if you had nothing to do with it. Is your car such a piece of crap that you can't tell if its been in an accident?

But, if in doubt, this would be a perfect thing to run to an attorney.

11/19/2012 11:09:58 AM

set up an email rule forwarding all their emails to the local police

11/19/2012 11:19:12 AM

Quote :

"Do NOT meet the people and do not talk to them. Also bitch the hell out of that secretary for giving out your personal information without consent. "

Quote :

"Is your car such a piece of crap that you can't tell if its been in an accident?"

My car was backed into by another car, my car had minor damage to the sheet metal their car had no damage to the pastic bumper. I can see where this is possible, just not very likely.

It's just a scam though, I'd save the emails but ignore the whole issue.

[Edited on November 19, 2012 at 11:50 AM. Reason : 4]

11/19/2012 11:46:30 AM

i would contact campus police.

i actually had my car hit about a week ago on gardner st. and the camera on hillsborough bldg caught it. they were super helpful in tracking down the vehicle that hit me.

they spoke with the other driver regarding his insurance stuff. it may not be a bad idea to contact your insurance company to let them know that you got this email, but let them know that you don't recall anything and it may be a hoax. it would be better for them to have it on record from you before the other person called them.

honestly if they're trying to get it taken care of properly, they would have already contacted the police, who would have tracked you down, so i wouldn't even respond. or tell them to go ahead and contact the police.

in my case, the campus police said they wouldn't even pursue any hit and run charges since the guy didn't know he hit me and was very helpful in giving his insurance info and trying to make sure everything was taken care of.

11/19/2012 12:06:50 PM

so much bad advice ITT. Don't talk to anyone. If this person really thinks you hit their car, they'll go to the police or their attorney and contact you that way. That's when you lawyer up.

[Edited on November 19, 2012 at 12:48 PM. Reason : .]

11/19/2012 12:48:18 PM

^ This.

A lawyer will waste your time and money just to tell you what has already been said...that they have no case.
Nothing good can come from calling your insurance co.

If you call anybody it should be the manager of the secretary who gave away your personal information. I'm sure she thought she was doing the right thing, but she could have opened you up to retaliation if this person really believes you did a hit and run on her car. She should have told her to call the police and ended the conversation. Very poor form on her part.

11/19/2012 5:10:43 PM

Why do you guys assume the secretary is to blame, why are you so quick to trust a scam artist?

11/19/2012 6:10:38 PM

Come on... this is just a spam email worse than the Nigerian lottery.

No secretary has your license plate on file with an email address.

11/19/2012 6:43:29 PM

Watch out for something like this http://www.city-data.com/forum/memphis/1012790-beware-ol-hit-n-run-scam.html

11/19/2012 10:28:44 PM

Quote :

"Why do you guys assume the secretary is to blame, why are you so quick to trust a scam artist?"

Quote :

"Come on... this is just a spam email worse than the Nigerian lottery."

I assumed the OP was smart enough to decipher whether this person was from Nigeria and/or had real personal information about herself, her vehicle, and her parking habits based on the post she made.

Quote :

"No secretary has your license plate on file with an email address."

Pretty much any place that requires a parking permit will have your name/address/vehicle info. It's not far fetched to think "e-mail" would be requested as well. It's pretty standard on forms these days.

^ Not really relevant. Those are situations where the driver admitted to having been involved in a collision; albeit a minor one. If you deny the collision and there is no conclusive evidence (matching scars on the vehicles, a trustworthy witness, video of the incident) the claim will be denied.

11/19/2012 11:25:37 PM

Quote :

"dear sir or madam, i did not damage your car. if you contact me any further it will be considered harassment and extortion. i also will contact the proper authorities. good day "

11/20/2012 7:02:15 AM

^no.

contact no one. no. one. not even your own god damned grandmother.

11/20/2012 8:57:16 AM

Quote :

"Pretty much any place that requires a parking permit will have your name/address/vehicle info"

Not where I work, fwiw.

^ Agreed

11/20/2012 10:03:44 AM

I hate it when someone posts a thread like this, and doesnt follow-up.

11/20/2012 11:22:46 AM

we can only assume the OP decided to meet the scammer in person and is now being held for ransom.

11/21/2012 11:06:05 AM

Or the accuser stalked OP and ran her over in a car before taking off; left 4 dead...

11/21/2012 12:20:24 PM

Or the OP is the accuser and the assailant.

11/21/2012 1:04:20 PM

you just mind-fucked me man.

11/22/2012 9:57:59 PM

So basically this email said...

Hey Susie, I am a friend of your uncle Nanaheenajab from India. I know you may not have heard from him, he lived a very private life because he was very rich. Well, he passed away last week and wanted to leave $140,000,000 USD to you! All I need is your bank account info and social security and ....

11/23/2012 8:28:42 AM