A ‘crash for cash’ moped scam is on the rise. It’s happening mostly in London. But we’re also seeing these fake accidents in other parts of the UK. We want our drivers to know the warning signs. Here’s what you need to know:
First, don’t panic. It’s not happening on your local street corner every day. But it has affected about 2,250 drivers in London over 2 years.1 And it’s become the Insurance Fraud Bureau’s (IFB) biggest ever investigation.
These are only the reported cases. Some people may have been targeted without knowing. We want to raise awareness, so drivers know what to look out for.
The scam involves a moped driver crashing into your car on purpose – and claiming it’s your fault.
A combination of factors can make these fraudsters stand out. They usually:
- Look like moped delivery drivers
- Hide in a side road or parking space
- Throw their moped to the ground after crashing
- Drop to the floor to act out an injury
- Are quick to take photos of the incident
- Have a fake ‘witness’ at the scene
We asked our Claims team to tell us a bit more about the moped scam. And how it’s affecting our drivers.
They said: “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.”
Here’s what to do if you’re in an accident that looks like a scam:
- Make sure everyone’s okay
- Call the police if you feel you’re in danger at the scene
- And then its time to gather some information:
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- Ask the other driver(s) for their name and contact number
- Get the registration number, along with the make, model, and colour of the other vehicle(s)
- Ask for the names and contact details of any witnesses
- If possible, take photos of the vehicles before they are moved
- Call us as soon as possible on 0333 103 0030. Don’t use any telephone number which isn’t displayed on our website.
Let’s wrap this up nicely so you can remember:
If you’re an insurethebox customer, the little black box in your car has an accident alert. But it may not sense this type of impact. So, we need drivers to contact us as soon as possible after the incident. Even if there’s no damage to your car and the moped driver says they’re okay.
Together, we can make the roads safer for everyone.
Share this article with friends and family so we can protect drivers against scams.
1 https://insurancefraudbureau.org/media-centre/news/2023/crash-for-cash-moped-scams-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-reckless-two-wheel-con-thats-on-the-rise/