Beware of New Towing Scams in Spartanburg: What Local Drivers Need to Know

Erika
Nov 16
3 min read

Updated: 17 hours ago

When you’re stranded on the side of the road, the last thing you expect is to be targeted by a scam. Unfortunately, towing scams are on the rise in Spartanburg, SC, with fake companies running misleading Google ads and fraudulently posing as legitimate local towing services. At Jimmy Ray’s Towing, we want to make sure drivers across Spartanburg County, Cherokee County, and the Upstate know how to protect themselves.

What’s the Latest Towing Scam in Spartanburg?

A growing number of fake towing companies are buying Google ads to appear at the top of search results for phrases like:

“towing near me”
“tow truck Spartanburg SC”
“roadside assistance near me”
“wrecker service Spartanburg”

These scam companies pretend to be local, but they aren’t. Their goal is simple:

They overcharge customers, then outsource the tow to a real local company.

The scam works like this:

A stranded driver searches online for a tow truck.
A fake company’s Google ad appears at the top of the page.
The driver calls, believing it’s a nearby, legitimate tow service.
The fake company quotes a low price but demands an outrageous fee once on-site, charges hidden fees after taking payment over the phone or adds exorbitant fees to the original quote with the intention of keeping the excess,
They then call a real towing company and pay them the normal rate… while keeping the rest.

This practice hurts local drivers and reputable towing companies across Spartanburg.

How to Spot a Fake Towing Company

Here are the red flags every driver in the Upstate should watch for:

1. No Local Address or Physical Presence

Most scam companies cannot provide a verified location in Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Duncan, Lyman, or Cowpens.

2. Call Centers Instead of Local Dispatch

If the dispatcher avoids giving their name or seems overly scripted, be cautious. The often (not always) use a 1-800 number vs. a local area code.

3. Suspiciously Low Up-Front Pricing or Very High Pricing

Scammers often quote $40–$50 to hook drivers—then demand hundreds once the car is loaded, or upcharge on a real local towing companies true price and keep the excess.

4. No Branded Trucks or Uniformed Drivers

Legitimate companies like Jimmy Ray’s Towing display clear branding, DOT numbers, and provide insurance info on request. However, since many of these "dispatching companies" are sending actual local towing companies and upcharge their normal rate, having an actual local towing company complete your tow doesn't always mean there is no scam.

5. Requests for Payment Before Arrival

Local towing companies typically do not require payment before the truck shows up. At Jimmy Ray's, we only require payment upon the completion of your job.

Why Choosing a Verified Local Towing Company Matters

When you choose a true local towing service, you’re choosing:

Up-front pricing with no hidden fees
Faster response times
Local drivers who know Spartanburg roads
Licensed, insured, professional service
Direct communication—no middleman or scam broker

At Jimmy Ray’s Towing, we proudly serve:

Spartanburg
Boiling Springs
Inman
Roebuck
Duncan & Lyman
Cowpens
Chesnee
Gaffney
All surrounding Upstate SC areas

Your call goes directly to our dispatch, not a third-party scam operation.

How Google Ads Factor Into the Scam

Many of these fake companies run Google ads using:

Keywords for “local towing”
The names of real Spartanburg towing companies
Fake locations
Spoofed phone numbers

Because these scam ads appear above organic search results, drivers in emergency situations often click the first number they see. That’s why local awareness is crucial.

Additionally, Jimmy Ray's Towing is Spartanburg's ONLY Light-Duty Towing Company that is Google Local Services GUARANTEED. We proudly display the Google Guaranteed Badge!

What To Do If You Suspect a Towing Scam

If you think you’ve encountered a fraudulent towing company in Spartanburg:

Do not give your credit card number over the phone.
Ask for the company’s physical address.
Request the tow truck’s ETA and truck number.
Look up the company name + “reviews” before committing.
Call a known local responder, like Jimmy Ray’s Towing.

If it feels wrong, it probably is.

Trust Jimmy Ray’s Towing — Your Local, Reliable, Up-Front Tow Services

For over-the-road breakdowns, accident recovery, winch-outs, lockouts, roadside assistance, or emergency towing in Spartanburg County, Jimmy Ray’s Towing provides: