A scam known as ‘crash for cash’ involving mopeds is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in London. However, incidents have also been reported in various parts of the UK. In light of this, it is important for our drivers to be aware of the warning signs associated with this scam. Here’s what you need to know:
Don’t Panic: While it may not be happening every day on your local street corner, it has affected approximately 2,250 drivers in London over a span of 2 years. Moreover, it has become the Insurance Fraud Bureau’s (IFB) largest ever investigation.
This figure only accounts for reported cases, implying that there may be individuals who have been targeted without being aware of it. As a result, we aim to raise awareness so that drivers can recognize the signs of this fraudulent activity.
The Scam: The scam typically involves a moped driver deliberately crashing into your car and falsely claiming that it is your fault.
Several indicators can help identify these fraudsters. They typically:
- Resemble moped delivery drivers
- Hide in side roads or parking spaces
- Intentionally throw their moped to the ground after causing the crash
- Pretend to be injured by dropping to the floor
- Quickly take photos of the incident
- Have an accomplice posing as a ‘witness’ at the scene
Our Claims team highlighted the detrimental impact of the moped scam on our drivers and emphasized the importance of reporting any accidents to us promptly. They cautioned, “Sometimes people don’t realise they’ve been targeted by fraudsters. We go through a series of questions to identify whether this is the case. Customers should be wary if the moped driver says there’s no need to report the accident. This can give scammers more opportunity to make a fraudulent claim, saying that they weren’t at fault. We want to make sure our drivers are protected. The most important step is that they report the crash to us as soon as they can.”
What to Do If You’re Involved in a Suspected Scam:
- Ensure everyone involved is unharmed
- Contact the police if you feel unsafe at the scene
- Collect the following information:
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- Names and contact numbers of the other driver(s)
- Registration number, make, model, and color of the other vehicle(s)
- Contact details of any witnesses
- Photos of the vehicles before they are moved, if possible
- Immediately call us at 0333 103 0030, and avoid using any telephone number which isn’t displayed on our website
In conclusion, our priority is to ensure the safety and protection of our drivers. For insurethebox customers, while the black box in their car may have an accident alert, it may not detect this type of impact. Therefore, we encourage all drivers to contact us as soon as possible following the incident, even if there is no visible damage to their car.
Together, we can work towards making the roads safer for everyone. Share this article with friends and family to help protect drivers against scams.
Source: Insurance Fraud Bureau
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