New research reveals top 'crash for cash' hotspots

Birmingham is the UK hotspot for vehicle insurance fraud, with several postcodes ranking in the top 10 of the IFB’s top 30 crash-for-cash locations. But the issue goes much further than just Birmingham…

 New research carried out by insurance provider Aviva reveals that British insurers thwarted 3,000 ‘crash for cash’ claimers in 2015, with Birmingham taking the top spot for the area most affected by this type of insurance fraud.

The research suggests that the new set of measures, which were introduced by the Insurance Taskforce (IFT) and approved by the UK government in the last few years, are not working as effectively as hoped.

 

The new measures were designed to make it tougher for motorists to get away with sham insurance claims by encouraging data sharing and collaboration between insurance providers and regulatory bodies. The UK government also introduced new obstacles for anyone wanting to claim compensation for non-existent whiplash injuries.

 

According to the figures, one in four of the 3,000 detected ‘crash for cash’ frauds in 2015 took place in Birmingham.

 

The Insurance Fraud Bureau suggests that ‘crash for cash’ incidents (when a driver purposefully crashes with an unsuspecting motorist in order to claim on their insurance) cost UK insurance providers a whopping £336million a year (and that doesn’t include the £2bn for whiplash claims).

 

Unfortunately, some areas throughout the UK have become increasingly popular with fraudsters looking to make money at the expense of innocent drivers and their insurance companies. These incidents are not only putting people’s lives in danger, they’re also increasing insurance premiums for motorists up and down the country.

 

The top 10 UK areas for ‘crash for cash’ incidents are:

1. Birmingham (B8, B6, B10, B25, B11, B9, B66, B19,

   B18, B21)

 

2. Bradford (BD9, BD8, BD3, BD7, BD5)

 

3. Manchester (M8, M12, M19, M18, M9)

 

4. Oldham (OL8, OL16)

 

5. Bolton (BL3)

 

6. Sheffield (S9)

 

7. Liverpool (L28)

 

8. Wakefield (WF13)

 

9. London (N18, N9)

 

10. Enfield (EN3)

 

If you live, work, or drive regularly in any of these areas (particularly the post code prefixes listed), be vigilant and keep yourself, your family and your friends safe from fraudsters and injury.

How to reduce the chance of a successful ‘crash for cash’ incident happening to you

Firstly, as we’ve mentioned, you need to remain vigilant. Crash for cash scams are committed not only by people in vehicles, but also by pedestrians too. Keep your eyes open for suspicious behaviour, and take the following steps to avoid becoming a victim of these careless criminals:

• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Crash for cash scams often involve the culprits braking hard and violently in their vehicle, meaning you’re much more likely to crash if you’re too close. Some fraudsters will also disable their brake lights to reduce the chance of their victims noticing them suddenly slowing down or stopping. Keep an eye out for faults and damage on vehicles, as these could be a key indicator of a potential danger ahead of you.

 

• Ensure that junctions and roads are clear before pulling out. Many criminals have started to flash their lights in order to tempt people out due to their “act of kindness” but there can often be an accomplice waiting to take advantage of your movement. Make sure all roads are clear and that there is no oncoming traffic from either side.

 

• Stick to the rules of the highway code. This ties in with the above, but sticking to the rules and guidance surrounding roads and driving in the UK will dramatically reduce the chances of being involved in a collision (crash-for-cash or not). People have previously fallen victim to criminals flashing them out of a junction at a roundabout, which would be easy to avoid if regular roundabout rules are followed.

 

• Invest in a dash cam. Whilst this isn’t a free solution, it’s possibly one of the most beneficial things you can do to protect yourself. Should a collision occur at any point, dash cam recordings can provide crucial evidence that the police and your insurance company can use to deem whether the incident was genuine or fraudulent. It’s worth looking into dash cam kits that provide cameras for multiple angles/areas of your vehicle so that all bases are covered.

Hopefully you’ll feel a little more prepared when it comes to dealing with these potentially horrible situations now. Just remember to remain focused and drive defensively. You are your own secret weapon when it comes to avoiding this all-too-common crime.

However, if you feel like you’ve recently been a victim of a crash-for-cash or insurance fraudster, get in touch with the Insurance Fraud Bureau and contact them via their free ‘Cheatline’.

 

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