IFB and Crimestoppers are appealing to motorists to provide information on ‘crash for cash’ criminals
The top 10 postcode hotspots for ‘crash for cash’ scams are in Bradford, Birmingham and Bolton, according to the IFB.
The figures have been released today as IFB and Crimestoppers launch a campaign, appealing to motorists to provide information on individuals that make bogus claims in a crime that costs the industry over £390m every year.
Motorists are being warned to be vigilant, particularly in the ‘crash for cash’ hotspot areas, in Bradford, Birmingham, Bolton, Manchester, London, Liverpool and Halifax.
The Insurance Fraud Bureau says the scams are typically co-ordinated beyond individual towns and cities by organised criminal gangs, who use the profits to fund their ongoing criminal network, with the average scam investigated by the IFB estimated to be worth £1.7m.
The public is being urged to report suspicions to IFB’s anonymous Cheatline, which alongside insurance industry data will help to identify the criminals.
To date, working with police forces across the country, the IFB has secured more than 850 arrests of individuals suspected of ‘crash for cash’.
IFB director Ben Fletcher said: “Far from being a victimless crime, ‘crash for cash’ scams hit motorists in the pocket and put other road users in harm’s way.
“While the hotspots show where fraudsters are prevalent the reality is that staged accidents can happen anywhere and at any time.”
Crash for Cash statistics:
- one in seven personal injury claims are linked to suspected ‘Crash for Cash’ scams
- £392m is the annual cost of ‘Crash for Cash’ fraud
- £1.7m is the average value of scams investigated by the IFB
- £50 is the annual cost of fraud to household insurance bills
- one in 10 motorists would consider taking part in ‘Crash for Cash’ scams for financial reward.
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