Motorists are being warned about a dangerous new twist in "crash for cash" moped scams that could lead to identity theft, with elderly drivers potentially at risk.
Fraudsters are now pressuring accident victims to share unnecessary personal details such as photos of insurance certificates and driving licences at the roadside.
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has discovered more than 1,100 fraudulent motor insurance policies taken out by moped scammers using stolen details from crash for cash victims since last summer.
These scams have been increasing across London, with growing reports in south-east England including Chelmsford, Essex, and several towns in Hertfordshire.
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Women driving alone or with children are frequently targeted, with recent reports also showing elderly people being singled out by the scammers.
The scammers typically target victims who are distressed or confused following a collision, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
Victims are persuaded to show their insurance certificate or driving licence, which the fraudsters then photograph at the roadside.
These personal details are subsequently used for various financial crimes, with identity theft being a primary concern.
In one particularly severe case, a victim who was pressured into revealing their details had more than 40 insurance policies fraudulently taken out using their stolen information. The victim only discovered the fraud after receiving numerous unexpected letters in the post.
In other instances, scammers use the stolen information to hijack victims' existing insurance policies and implicate them in fraudulent insurance claims.
The IFB has been working closely with insurers and police to combat this growing threat to motorists.
John Davies, intelligence and investigations manager at the IFB, described the impact on victims as "horrendous".
He added: "This latest trend shows just how relentless moped scammers are, as not only are they putting innocent road users at risk and accusing them of causing collisions, they're now stealing their details to commit financial crime.
"It's important to remember, if you've had an accident and the other driver wants a photo of your insurance certificate or driving licence, that's a red flag."
Motorists should only share their name, address and vehicle registration number following a collision, as Davies said drivers shouldn't be pressured into handing over anything unnecessary.
The IFB urges anyone who believes they have evidence of a crash for cash scam or suspects their details have been stolen for insurance fraud to report it to their CheatLine.
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Detective Inspector Marek Coghill, from the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, explained that these crashes typically occur at low speeds, and often involve minor or no impact and little damage to either vehicle.
He said: "The value of the insurance claims is often inflated, for repairs, storage, and replacement vehicles, which makes this lucrative criminal activity attractive for fraudsters.
"If you witness or are involved in a collision and suspect it is crash for cash fraud, gather as much information as possible. These details could be invaluable in disproving a fraudulent claim."
Find Out More...
Fraudsters are now pressuring accident victims to share unnecessary personal details such as photos of insurance certificates and driving licences at the roadside.
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has discovered more than 1,100 fraudulent motor insurance policies taken out by moped scammers using stolen details from crash for cash victims since last summer.
These scams have been increasing across London, with growing reports in south-east England including Chelmsford, Essex, and several towns in Hertfordshire.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
Women driving alone or with children are frequently targeted, with recent reports also showing elderly people being singled out by the scammers.
The scammers typically target victims who are distressed or confused following a collision, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
Victims are persuaded to show their insurance certificate or driving licence, which the fraudsters then photograph at the roadside.
These personal details are subsequently used for various financial crimes, with identity theft being a primary concern.
In one particularly severe case, a victim who was pressured into revealing their details had more than 40 insurance policies fraudulently taken out using their stolen information. The victim only discovered the fraud after receiving numerous unexpected letters in the post.
In other instances, scammers use the stolen information to hijack victims' existing insurance policies and implicate them in fraudulent insurance claims.
The IFB has been working closely with insurers and police to combat this growing threat to motorists.
John Davies, intelligence and investigations manager at the IFB, described the impact on victims as "horrendous".
He added: "This latest trend shows just how relentless moped scammers are, as not only are they putting innocent road users at risk and accusing them of causing collisions, they're now stealing their details to commit financial crime.
"It's important to remember, if you've had an accident and the other driver wants a photo of your insurance certificate or driving licence, that's a red flag."
Motorists should only share their name, address and vehicle registration number following a collision, as Davies said drivers shouldn't be pressured into handing over anything unnecessary.
The IFB urges anyone who believes they have evidence of a crash for cash scam or suspects their details have been stolen for insurance fraud to report it to their CheatLine.
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Detective Inspector Marek Coghill, from the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, explained that these crashes typically occur at low speeds, and often involve minor or no impact and little damage to either vehicle.
He said: "The value of the insurance claims is often inflated, for repairs, storage, and replacement vehicles, which makes this lucrative criminal activity attractive for fraudsters.
"If you witness or are involved in a collision and suspect it is crash for cash fraud, gather as much information as possible. These details could be invaluable in disproving a fraudulent claim."
Find Out More...