LA County woman charged in ‘crash and buy’ auto insurance fraud

Prosecutors have charged a Los Angeles woman with insurance fraud after she allegedly bought insurance coverage following a traffic accident, the LA County District Attorney’s Office told NBC Los Angeles exclusively Monday.

Priscilla Lozano was arrested last Thursday after authorities suspected that she committed “crash and buy” fraud from September 2025.

Investigators believe Lozano was uninsured when she was involved in a crash, but she later purchased a policy and lied about the accident’s timing. 

“Basically, anyone who drives in Los Angeles County without proper or adequate insurance, is involved in a traffic collision, and then buys the proper insurance after the accident and lies about when the accident happened, is guilty of insurance fraud,” the district attorney’s office explained. “The goal is to either have the vehicle repaired without cost to the accused or to have the vehicle totaled out and cash changing hands.”

The 33-year-old is awaiting a future court date after posting $25,000 bail last Thursday, the DA’s office said.

Those found guilty of insurance fraud could be sentenced to up to five years in state prison or face a $50,000 fine.