UK insurer MORE TH>N say that despite the media coverage relating to the ‘crash for cash’ scam, 41% of motorists have never heard of this form of gang crime.
While co-ordinated efforts by the police and insurance companies have seen a drop of 11% in incidents of the scam over the last two years, MORE TH>N claim that levels of awareness have not risen during that time.
They claim that two thirds of motorists would not know if they were a victim of a deliberate or staged accident, while almost a third would not know what to do if they found themselves victims of the scam.
For those unaware of the scam, MORE TH>N describe it as when a criminal gang deliberately cause an accident with an innocent motorist, with the intention of making a false or inflated claim. This is often achieved by shunting the victim from behind or braking late and hard to ensure the victim hits the rear of the offending vehicle. Fraudsters will often have disabled brake lights making it more likely to be hit by a following vehicle.
Motorists who suspect that they have been involved in a staged accident should say nothing at the scene and advise their insurance company of their suspicions. Photo’s of the accident scene, vehicle damage and occupants should be taken if possible.
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