Viral dashcam video reveals alleged insurance scam on Queens’ belt parkway

A dashcam video capturing an alleged staged crash on Queens' Belt Parkway has gone viral.

A viral dashcam video from Queens' Belt Parkway has drawn significant attention, as it appears to expose an alleged insurance scam in which a silver sedan reverses into an SUV after an abrupt cutoff.

The footage, first posted on TikTok, shows Natasha Ashipa’s car being forced to stop suddenly, followed by the Accord deliberately reversing into her vehicle. The clip quickly gained traction online as viewers highlighted the apparent staging of the accident.
 

“This guy just reversed into me. What the hell is going on?” Ashipa is heard saying in the video, visibly shocked by the incident. Retired NYPD officer and criminal justice professor Michael Salazar analyzed the video for FOX 5, noting the tell-tale signs of a planned scam, such as a Hefty bag covering the rear windshield to obscure the drivers' identities.

Salazar, an expert in criminal justice, commented on how scams like this often target individuals driving alone, particularly women, in high-traffic urban areas like New York City.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, such fraudulent setups are common in large cities, where they prey on vulnerable drivers. Salazar advised drivers to use dashcams and contact authorities if they suspect a staged accident, stating, "Dashcams can be invaluable in capturing incidents like these and protecting against fraudulent claims."