|
|
Insurance fraudsters being tracked down
publication date: Apr 28, 2010
|
author/source: Robin Roberts
Analysis by Direct Line has identified the UK's top
ten ‘crash for cash' hotspots, as the insurer steps up its fight against
fraudsters who cost every other motorist an average of £44 a year and
delay payments for genuine claims.
| The 'Crash for cash' fraudsters
fake accidents by making unnecessary emergency stops at busy roundabouts
or slip roads, forcing motorists to crash into them.
They then make
bogus claims to the innocent motorist's insurer, often including
fictitious injuries.
Direct Line's sophisticated monitoring of data and
coordinated nationwide investigations means its anti-fraud team are
aware of hundreds of sites that have been used by fraudsters, enabling
them to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The scams
are estimated to cost up to £350 million a year increasing the
insurance premiums of honest drivers, as well as delaying payouts for
claims that happened at known hotspots by up to three weeks.
Further
analysis has enabled Direct Line to map the entire country to highlight
evidence of suspicious claims and determine the ten worst hotspots for
the scams.
By utilising this information alongside specially developed
technology and methodology, Direct Line is able to catch fraudsters more
easily and quickly.
Kate Lotts, Director of
Specialist Claims at Direct Line said, "Crash for cash scams pose a
significant risk to public safety.
"As well as adding to the cost of
insurance, they delay payouts on genuine claims as any reported accident
at a known scam site has to undergo additional investigations.
"Just the
actions of a few, can cost motorists a significant amount of money and
pose a real threat to people's lives.
"Our investigation systems mean
that we can pinpoint areas of concern and the hotspots are just a small
proportion of the data that we share with the rest of the insurance
industry.
"We will not tolerate fraudsters and always push for the
harshest penalties, as we have a duty to protect our customers.
Every
pound taken by a fraudster is a pound taken from honest motorists." | | Crash for cash troublespots top ten
1. Centenary Way,
Trafford Park, Manchester
2. Haslingden roundabout, Junction 5, M65
3.
Scotland Road roundabout, Junction 13, M65
4. Gannow Top roundabout,
Cavalry Way, Burnley
5. Eden Point roundabout, A34, Stockport
6.
Denham roundabout, M40
7. Jarman Park, A414, Hemel Hempstead
8.
Parkway Uxbridge Road A312 / A4020
9. Port Way / Strand Road
junction , Preston
10. Junction 24 roundabout, M25 | | | | | | Direct Line offers the following tips for drivers to
protect themselves against fraudsters:
• If you suspect someone in
front of you is driving erratically give them as wide a berth as
possible
• In the event of an accident record as much detail as
possible including names, addresses and dates of birth of claimants
•
Make a note of how many people are in the other vehicle
• If
possible take photographs with your mobile phone
• Get full names
and addresses of any witnesses
• Make sure you highlight concerns to
your insurer
You can report information free of charge to the
Insurance Fraud Bureau' confidential hotline on 0800 328 2550. |
Download the Wheels Within Wales toolbar for your quickest way to keep in touch with everything that's happening on Welsh roads and in showrooms or use our RSS feed for the headlines you will not want to miss
|
|
|
.gif){kind=small}