Motorists are being warned to be careful for a brand new kind of “crash for money rip-off” which can notably goal youthful drivers and the aged.
In contrast to “conventional” crash for money scams the place fraudsters trigger a collision, the brand new twist includes scammers accusing drivers of clipping their wing mirror, earlier than changing into threatening and demanding money up entrance.
The warning is being issued by the Insurance coverage Fraud Bureau (IFB) and Metropolis of London Police’s Insurance coverage Fraud Enforcement Division (IFED), alongside a number of insurers.
The con was detected in London in 2021, however the IFB and IFED mentioned they’ve since seen the “clip for money” rip-off unfold to different elements of the UK, together with within the South West and Wales.
The IFB and IFED are investigating greater than 40 incidents the place harmless folks seem to have been focused, however attributable to a scarcity of public consciousness, they’re involved that a whole bunch of circumstances might be going unreported.
The con typically takes place on a residential highway, in accordance with the police.
Because the sufferer drives by slowly, the fraudster is parked of their automobile and throws an object equivalent to a big rock along with the sufferer’s automobile to make an affect sound.
The sufferer is flashed by the fraudster’s automobile to get them to cease, earlier than being accused of clipping a wing mirror, which had already been broken.
The fraudster calls for they hand over money immediately or pressures them into visiting a cashpoint. The fraudster is reluctant to pursue any declare by the insurer. In some cases the place the sufferer has not agreed at hand over cash, the offender has turn into bodily intimidating.
Some insurers mentioned they’re seeing youthful drivers and the aged being focused.
No person ought to strain you into handing over cash on the scene of a collision
Detective Inspector Philip Corcoran
Ursula Jallow, director at IFB, mentioned: “Clip for money is an rising menace to drivers.
“These fraudsters trick harmless motorists into pondering they’ve triggered real harm after which apply strain ways to get victims at hand over money.
“As there may be little consciousness of this new fraud kind, it means drivers are extra vulnerable to falling sufferer. We’re urging everybody to look out for the warning indicators of those wing mirror stings and report it to Cheatline and Motion Fraud.”
Detective Inspector Philip Corcoran at IFED mentioned: “Crash for money scams pose an actual security danger to the general public, so it’s regarding to see these fraudsters evolve their ways to focus on extra unsuspecting drivers.
“No person ought to strain you into handing over cash on the scene of a collision. If you happen to suspect you have got fallen sufferer to this rip-off, report it to IFB’s Cheatline and to Motion Fraud.”
No matter whether or not a real collision has taken place, cash ought to by no means be handed over on the scene, police mentioned.
If somebody is accused of damaging a wing mirror, insurance coverage particulars must be swapped as legally required. If there may be an imminent danger of hazard, police must be known as.
If somebody thinks they’ve been focused, they need to inform their insurer and native police power. They need to additionally report their issues to IFB’s Cheatline and Motion Fraud, the nationwide fraud and cybercrime reporting service.
We’re seeing youthful and aged drivers focused as they’re extra more likely to fall for this terrible rip-off
Ben Fletcher, LV= Basic Insurance coverage
Ben Neyland, head of claims counter fraud at insurer Admiral, mentioned: “Sadly, this insidious rip-off is changing into extra commonplace. The ways utilized by the fraudsters are intimidating and it could be scary to be focused by them.
“One method to stop folks falling prey to the rip-off is to boost consciousness of it.
“Which is why it’s vital for insurers to help the IFB and IFED within the marketing campaign to unfold the phrase about it. If you happen to suspect you’ve been focused by fraudsters with this rip-off, let your insurance coverage supplier know and report it to Cheatline.”
Matthew Stevens, anti-fraud director at Hastings Direct, mentioned: “My recommendation to motorists is to by no means hand money over along with the highway, all the time report the incident to your insurance coverage supplier and to name the police if the opposite motorist turns into threatening.”
Ben Fletcher, director of economic crime at LV= Basic Insurance coverage, mentioned: “Fraudsters are continuously evolving their ways, and that is one other instance of how they prey on the weak. We’re seeing youthful and aged drivers focused as they’re extra more likely to fall for this terrible rip-off.
“We work with the trade to crack down on any tendencies we see, and our fraud controls guarantee we’re capturing these criminals to assist shield harmless motorists and hold insurance coverage prices down.
“It’s so vital victims take photos of the harm, search for witnesses who might help present an account of what occurred and report insurance coverage fraud confidentially to Cheatline.”
