Drivers are being warned to stay alert as moped crash-for-cash scams rise,with criminals targeting unsuspecting motorists for insurance fraud (Picture VISION4RY-L4NGU4GE/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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Moped criminals are faking crashes and nabbing victims’ details as part of a rising insurance fraud racket.
‘Dangerous crash for cash’ scams saw criminals cash in on at least 1,100 fake claims between summer 2024 and March,according to the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).
People driving cars can also perpetrate the scam,but moped scams are particularly on the rise.
John Davies,an intelligence and investigations manager at the IFB,told the Guardian: ‘As the nights draw in and road conditions worsen,drivers may be at greater risk of being targeted in reckless crash-for-cash scams.’
The scam isn’t always easy to spot,and at first may appear to be a genuine collision,experts warn.
A driver will hide out of sight before driving into a victim at a low speed.
While the damage to the vehicle will be minor,the driver will accuse the victim of being at fault,demanding to see their driving licence or insurance certificate.
The scammer may also have a witness nearby,who backs up their version of events,piling pressure on the unsuspecting victim.
Police and the Insurance Fraud Bureau urge drivers not to hand over personal documents after minor collisions (Picture: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock
Once they have photos of the driver’s documentation,they then use those details to take out phoney insurance claims.
The fraudsters often work in big teams,allowing them to pocket hundreds of thousands of pounds.
In January,a City of London Police investigation revealed ten criminal gang members had nabbed £320,000 through a ‘crash-for-cash’ scheme.
Raju Patel,40,of Segundo Road,Walsall,and Aqeb Hussain,42,of Gainsborough Avenue,Oldham,were among ten people who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Amid a rise in cases,the IFB has shared advice with road users on how to avoid being swindled.
After an accident,drivers are obliged to exchange names,addresses,and vehicle registration but nothing else.
There is no need to share information like copies of insurance policies or show your driving licence.
People who think they’ve been targeted should try to recall as much information about the incident as possible.
That includes the make and model of the moped,the number plate,a description of the driver,details of any other witnesses,and dashcam footage.
People should then call their insurer and the police and say they believe they’ve fallen foul of a ‘crash-for-cash’ scam.
Detective Sergeant Adam Maskell,from the City of London Police,said: ‘Crash-for-cash fraud puts motorists at risk and contributes to the rise in premiums for everyone who buys insurance.
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‘The sophisticated level of planning involved in this scheme shows the greed of calculated insurance criminals and the measures they will take to gain financially.’
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