Viral dashcam video exposes suspected insurance fraud on the Belt Parkway

NEW YORK – A shocking dashcam video captured on the Belt Parkway in Queens has gone viral, showing a seemingly staged accident involving a Honda Accord that transformed into an SUV after braking.

The incident, which is now suspected to be a case of insurance fraud, has attracted widespread attention online.

The video, first posted on TikTok, begins with Natasha Ashipa driving when a Honda Accord suddenly cuts her off, forcing her to slam on the brakes. Moments later, the Accord violently backs into her vehicle.

“This guy just turned into me. What the hell is going on?” A clearly shaken Ashipa can be heard in the video.

Speaking to FOX 5, retired NYPD officer and criminal justice professor Michael Salazar said the footage shows the incident was not an accident.

“Totally planned, I’m sure they’ve done it before,” Salazar said. “If you watch the video again, you’ll see that the back window was covered by a Hefty bag and they were trying to prop it back up, apparently to cover up who the drivers were.”

Salazar said insurance fraud scams like this one often target solo drivers, particularly women. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that such schemes are more common in urban areas with heavy traffic, such as New York City.

Salazar advised drivers to always use a dash camera and contact 9-1-1 immediately if they are involved in an accident that they believe was staged.