GEICO Sues California Auto Glass Repair Shop, Alleging Fraud

GEICO has filed a federal lawsuit in California alleging that a local auto glass repair shop submitted fraudulent repair bills.

The insurer is looking to recover damages, alleging that the repair shop — Winaffix Auto Glass — violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, as well as the California Business and Professional Code.

GEICO has also filed claims for common law fraud and unjust enrichment.

The insurer alleges that Tal Elzari and Navid Vatankhahan, the owners of Winaffix Auto Glass, used their business in a scheme to overbill for windshield glass replacement.

The alleged scheme involved creating false glass invoices that mimicked those from legitimate car dealerships so that Elzari and Vatankhahan could fraudulently claim they were using pricey original equipment glass, rather than less expensive glass.