Calgary Crime: Tow Scheme Charges Escalate

CALGARY — A 25-year-old tow truck operator is facing a dozen criminal charges after insurance companies flagged what police describe as a predatory towing scheme that allegedly gouged accident victims for thousands of dollars.

Hassan Ashraf Zahran, owner of Southway Towing and Country Side Towing, faces nine counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, one count under $5,000, and one count of mischief under $5,000.

Calgary Police Service opened the investigation in December 2025 after two insurance companies reported suspicious billing patterns from Zahran's operations.

The Towing Trap

Predatory towing has become a costly problem for Calgary drivers. A City of Calgary report from February 2025 found that victims of these schemes pay an average of $4,000 per incident — 11 times what a standard 50km tow should cost.

The playbook is familiar: Tow trucks arrive unsolicited at crash scenes, promise help, then hit drivers with inflated fees and charges for services never rendered.

City and provincial officials have scrambled to close the loopholes.

New Rules, Real Teeth

On February 25, 2025, Calgary City Council passed amendments creating a 200-meter "no-go" zone around accident scenes. Tow trucks can't cruise for customers there anymore. Break the rule? Face a $10,000 fine.

Former Ward 14 Councillor Peter Demong pushed the bylaw changes starting in late 2024. The Community Development Committee recommended the amendments on February 6, 2025.

Provincial regulations kicked in last August 2025, adding another layer: tow trucks can't stop near disabled vehicles unless the driver calls them first.

The Alberta Motor Association has backed the crackdown through its "Know Before the Tow" campaign. The Towing and Recovery Association of Alberta also supports the bylaw, calling out what it terms "malicious practices" by rogue operators.

What Happens Next

Police haven't disclosed which insurance companies triggered the investigation or the total dollar amount allegedly stolen. The Calgary Police Service and Emergency Management & Community Safety absorbed implementation costs through existing budgets.

Zahran's case moves forward as enforcement ramps up across the city.