Beware - Accident Scam on Increase

Nigel H-J · Post by **Nigel H-J** » 11 Jan 2007, 12:49

Thought I might put this link on for you to read as we all take to the roads on a daily basis. I have heard of this in the past but one usually tends to put it at the back of the mind and forget about it but now it appears this is on the increase, the offenders usually use a vehicle that can be bought for around Â£100+ mark to do their deeds.

All I can suggest if you become the victim and believe it was done intentionally then phone the police stating that you have been forced into an accident and see if they can send someone. This may, or could help, your situation as no-one, as far as I am aware, would ever dream of calling the police if they were the cause of a none injury crash.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6248515.stm

speedbird591 · Post by **speedbird591** » 11 Jan 2007, 13:07

Thanks, Nigel. As you say, this scam has been around for a while but is on a dramatic increase. Difficult to know what to do about it except to be aware and, sadly, be even more suspicious of other people than we already are. I notice that most victims are lured into a collision by the scammers braking hard in front of them. So perhaps some of them are those awful people who drive too closely, in which case I don't have too much sympathy!

I suppose if you suspect that you are a victim, the thing to do is to only give them insurance details (i.e a photocopy of your certificate) and refuse to give your address or negotiate any other deal. Calling the Police from the scene may also deter them from intimidation. It's just another nail in the coffin of civilised society.

Ian

Hot_Charlie · Post by **Hot_Charlie** » 11 Jan 2007, 16:38

Fairly sure that happened to my wife last year. Of course, the bloke knew exactly what to do, took control, but "couldn't remember" his basic insurance details at the time, although did moan "this is the second time this has happened to me in x months".

Four weeks later, the police informed us he had "whiplash". They weren't interested - I expect they knew exactly what he was up to. :roll:

Thankfully all it cost was a loss in resale value of the car, Â£400 excess and my wife's 1 years NCB...

Post by **Garry Russell** » 11 Jan 2007, 16:42

Hot_Charlie wrote:

Thankfully all it cost was a loss in resale value of the car, Â£400 excess and my wife's 1 years NCB...

Shouldn't have cost you anything. Charlie

If this was a scam it was a crime and you should be compensated not out of pocket.

Garry

Jetset · Post by **Jetset** » 11 Jan 2007, 17:01

Scum!

Hot_Charlie · Post by **Hot_Charlie** » 11 Jan 2007, 17:38

Garry Russell wrote:
Hot_Charlie wrote:

Thankfully all it cost was a loss in resale value of the car, Â£400 excess and my wife's 1 years NCB...
Shouldn't have cost you anything. Charlie

If this was a scam it was a crime and you should be compensated not out of pocket.

Garry

How can you prove it though.

Post by **DaveB** » 11 Jan 2007, 18:00

HC..

My better-half suffered similar years ago (11 or 12) while coming back from the shops somewhere in darkest Essex. This ratty old Escort van stopped without warning (she doesn't recall seeing any brake lights) towit good lady dings the back in our 405 :crying: Bloke gets out screaming and shouting abuse.. has a kid rolling around in the back (yeh.. ok) and wifey ends up back at the pub in tears (not least of all as she'd only been on my insurance 2 weeks!!).
The bloke offered no details but his reg number was taken. So angry was I that I sped down (sorry officer) to the nick and reported it myself. Next thing we know, the poor man is off sick with whiplash :shock: He was sent down to Dagenham motors for an estimate on the repair (I had an inside man there!!) and of course, it was laughed at. Also, the driver.. who had been complaining of whiplash didn't have a neck brace on and I was offered their CCTV footage as evidence. All this info was passed on to my insurers who I believe didn't pay up for the other party. It's still a sad fact though that the few bits done to our 405 cost Â£1900 to have repaired which dented my no claims (since protected).

The moral of the story is that this is nothing new.. there's just more of it these days :sad:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 11 Jan 2007, 18:14

Bloody insurance. I read somewhere that a woman with kids in the car pulled out in front of a another car on a t junction or something Said car swerved to avoid and went off the road. I cant remember if the car was writen off but the womans insurance wouldnt pay because he didnt actually hit her.....

cstorey · Post by **cstorey** » 11 Jan 2007, 18:49

speedbird591 wrote:
I suppose if you suspect that you are a victim, the thing to do is to only give them insurance details (i.e a photocopy of your certificate) and refuse to give your address or negotiate any other deal. Calling the Police from the scene may also deter them from intimidation. It's just another nail in the coffin of civilised society.

Ian, I know this advice was well meant , but the first part of it ( refusing to give name and address) is a criminal offence and must not be followed. I agree about calling the police, although too often they will not respond if there are no immediately apparent injuries

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 11 Jan 2007, 19:07

cstorey wrote: I agree about calling the police, although too often they will not respond if there are no immediately apparent injuries

Nearly right.

The Police can and will attend whether a person is injured or not, also if there are any allegations of dangerous or inconsiderate driving or if any offences come to light at the roadside (ie No Insurance or vehicle is in a dangerous condition etc etc).

Just because no ones hurt does'nt mean you should'nt call the Police if you suspect something or someone isn't right.

I'd be on the phone straight away if it happened to me.