Now crash fraudsters target Scots drivers

CASH-for-crash gangs are moving into Scotland, as police and anti-fraud strategies push them out of the hotspots south of the Border.

Motorists are being warned to be on the alert if they want to avoid getting caught up in the 30,000 bogus accidents a year, which cost insurers 350?million and push up consumers' premiums.

Insurance Fraud Bureau director Glen Marr said: "We have a list of 125 hotspot areas where we know networks are operating. The higher up the list, the higher the likelihood of innocent drivers being caught.

"Glasgow comes in at 63 and Edinburgh at 85. So they are on the list and climbing up it, but not at the top. As we target areas of high activity, unfortunately, the pattern is the gangs move on to new areas. So, as some postcodes come down our hotspot list, others go up."

The biggest fear is someone will finally be killed as cash-for-crash gangs attempt to make fraudulent insurance claims.

Most commonly they buy an old banger, perhaps smash it up a bit more, and disconnect the brake lights. They go out into traffic and suddenly slam on the brakes so the car behind smashes into the back of them.

Another car or other witnesses will suddenly turn up accusing the innocent driver of causing the accident, and saying they saw the brake lights come on. These are also gang members.

They will often attempt to get you to admit liability at the scene, and will often be working from a script.

Marr says: "The whole experience can be very distressing and emotional for the driver, who is completely innocent, but they don't care about that. They will often target vulnerable motorists, such as the elderly, or someone on a mobile phone or who is eating.

"The whole business is very slick and organised. These are professional criminals who, when we do pursue cases, turn out to also be involved in drug and people trafficking and mortgage fraud.

"The worry is they used to only operate in very slow-moving traffic. But they are becoming more aggressive and will now slam on the brakes in much faster-moving and dangerous situations."

The fraudsters then lodge claims for damage to the car and personal injury, often for more passengers than were present at the time. Those driving may not be the individuals who actually submit claims, which average 17,000 a time, and go as high as 70,000.

The police are fighting back. Earlier this month two brothers were convicted of masterminding a 12 million network. Rezwan and Rehan Javed paid drivers up to 500 a time to stage accidents around Manchester and Lancashire.

Their company, North West Claims Centre, began as a law-abiding referral business for people who had been involved in road accidents. After a while they decided to drum up custom by creating their own crashes.

Sometimes the same car was used in accidents several times a day in different locations, and witness statements were re-used in different claims.

One of their drivers became so confident about never being caught he repeatedly used the same roundabout to stage his crashes, each time wearing the same clothes.

They were rumbled by staff at an office block close to the roundabout who spotted it was the same man repeatedly involved.

That driver has been convicted and jailed for four and a half years. The brothers have been remanded in custody and await sentencing.

In a separate case earlier this year, seven insurers, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Churchill, Tesco Insurance, Liverpool Victoria, Aviva and Direct Line, took a civil case against a "cash for crash" ring, and succeeded in having their assets frozen and won 400,000 compensation.

In a variation of the same theme, the 57-member ring would approach a driver who had an old and low-value car, and ask to use the car in a staged accident in return for money.

After the accident, the owner would be given the details of the incident and a script to read to their insurance company claiming for a replacement car and compensation for injuries sustained. Often, the owners of the vehicles would visit their doctors pretending to have suffered whiplash so that they could add to the value of the claim.

How to avoid being a victim

Self-defence for drivers

1. Always keep a pen and paper in your car.

2. If someone around you is driving suspiciously, speeding and then slowing suddenly, let them pass.

3. Leave plenty of room behind the car ahead so no matter what happens, you can stop in time.

4. Try to see if the brake lights of the car in front are not working.

After an accident

1. Be suspicious and listen to your instincts. Does this feel right?

2. Don't admit liability

3. Never sign anything.

4. Make detailed notes of what has happened, including who was driving, weather conditions, the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting where.

5. If you have a camera with you and it is safe, take pictures of both the vehicles and the individuals in the car.

6. Be suspicious of witnesses who arrive from nowhere to support the other driver. Find a witness who supports your version of events.

7. Ask to see the driver's ID.

8. If concerned, call the police.

9. Contact the IFB at www.insurancefraudbureau.org.