The Latest Nonsense...

...brought to you those people around us will do anything to make money if it doesn't involve work.  

Apparently, there is such a thing as car accident fraud.  Drivers who purposely cause accidents so they can perpetuate some fraud on insurance companies.  Who knew there was such a thing?

I do now as I was a victim of such a thing.

Flashback to my recent NY trip.   A great afternoon matinee at "Cabaret."   A bite to eat at the nearby diner.   And then the plan was to drive my theater-going friend home on the upper West Side with my rented car.

Heading north, I noted that Manhattan is tough on drivers these days.   Bike lanes.  Pedestrian lanes.   Fewer lanes for actual cars.  Driving there is a lot more treacherous than I remember.   

But proceed I did.   Around the always annoying Columbus Circle roundabout.  Suddenly my friend issued a warning.

"The guy on the right is coming a little too close to you."

Before I knew it, said car pulled up in front of me, impeding my forward motion.  Now I am sorry to add this, but I must now write that a Black guy immediately got out of the back seat (?!!) and started to take photos of my license plate.   What gives?

"You hit us."

Huh?   We hadn't felt a thing.   I got out of my car and looked at his driver side.  I saw one small white scratch which disappeared with one stroke of my index finger.  There was zero evidence on my car.  Nevertheless, the Black woman driving their car made a pronouncement.

"We're calling the police!"

Now this is Manhattan in 2024, which means cops have better things to do.  The 911 operator asked the normal questions.

"Do you need an ambulance?

No.

"Do you need a tow truck?"

No.

This was so far down their radar screen.   We were told to trade licenses and registrations and then go about our business.   I noted that the ugly thing of a driver had an address in Hackensack, New Jersey.   

They quickly sped off.   In a hurry for their next victim as my friend advised me this was a scam.   Also confirmed by Hertz when I immediately reported the incident.   

"We see this all the time."

Well, unfortunately, I do not.   

Can't some people figure out how to make an honest living?

Dinner last night:  Sandwich.