Glossary

Swoop and squat

A staged-crash scheme in which one car swerves in front of a victim and a second car brakes hard, causing a rear-end collision.

Also called: swoop-and-squat scam, swoop and stop

Swoop and squat is one of the best-known staged accident schemes. It uses two cars working together. The "squat" car settles in front of the victim, and the "swoop" car suddenly cuts in between them or alongside. The squat car slams on its brakes, the victim cannot stop in time and rear-ends it, and the swoop car drives off.

Because the driver who rear-ends another car is usually presumed at fault, the fraudsters then claim against the victim's liability coverage. The squat car is often full of passengers who report neck and back injuries and get treated at cooperating clinics, so one crash can produce several injury claims. Example: four occupants each claim $15,000 in medical bills and pain and suffering from a low-speed crash (hypothetical figures). Targets tend to be newer cars and commercial vehicles, which suggest good insurance, in heavy traffic.

Leave extra following distance, especially behind a car carrying several passengers, and watch for a car that hovers nearby. After a suspicious crash, call police, photograph the other car, its occupants and the scene, count the passengers, look for witnesses, and tell your insurer you suspect fraud. A dash cam can be decisive. Report it to the National Insurance Crime Bureau as well. See the swoop-and-squat scam.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Staged accident A crash deliberately caused or faked to file fraudulent insurance claims, often by organized rings of drivers, passengers and complicit providers. Hard fraud Deliberately staging or inventing a loss, such as a fake crash, arson or false theft report, in order to collect insurance money. Insurance fraud Deceiving an insurer, or a policyholder, for financial gain, from staged crashes and padded claims to fake policies and lies on applications. National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) A nonprofit funded by member insurers that investigates insurance fraud and vehicle theft, works with police and runs the free VINCheck lookup. Special investigations unit (SIU) The team inside an insurance company that investigates suspected fraud in claims and applications and refers cases to authorities.

Related guides

Dash cams and car insurance How dash cam video settles fault and exposes staged crashes, why it rarely cuts your premium, where you can mount one, and how to save footage. Staged car accident scams The main kinds of staged and caused crashes, the warning signs at the scene, what the law says and how to protect yourself and your claim if you are targeted. The swoop-and-squat scam How the swoop-and-squat staged crash works step by step, who scammers target, how to drive defensively against it and how to protect your claim afterward.