'Crash for cash' con hits Brum; FRAUDSTERS: Gangs rake in millions from drivers.Byline: Mark Cowan GANGS of fraudsters are raking raking of an elephant—see back raking. in millions of pounds staging crashes in which they ram the cars of innocent motorists and then claim thousands of pounds on insurance. Insurers say the ' crash for cash' phenomenonhasblighted Birmingham and named the city in a top ten league of shame for the fake crash banS Rdits. The Insurance Fraud Bureau said while the growth of fraudulent claims has been contained, analysts still placed Birmingham at number six in the hot spot league. Bradford topped the league, followed by Blackburn and then Oldham. Walsall also made the top 20 for organised insurance swindles, coming in at number 16. Typically, fraudsters drive to busy road junctions and then perform unexpected and, unnecessary emergency stops designed to cause innocent motorists to crash into them. Claims are made to the innocent motorist's insurer, often including several accounts of fictitious Based upon a fabrication or pretense. A fictitious name is an assumed name that differs from an individual's actual name. A fictitious action is a lawsuit brought not for the adjudication of an actual controversy between the parties but merely for the purpose of injuries from members of the criminal gang. Bureau chairman John Beadle BEADLE. Eng. law. A messenger or apparitor of a court, who cites persons to appear to what is alleged against them, is so called. said: "The criminal gangs targeting honest motorists are ruthless. "Innocent lives are being put at risk and fraudulent insurance claims add approximately pounds 40 to every premium paid by honest policy holders each year. Left unchecked these criminal networks grow rapidly, split and even franchise smaller networks which in turn grow prolifically. "The key to success is collaboration between the insurance industry, police, public bodies and the general public. "We must continue to take a rigorous approach to dealing with this significant national problem which is impacting many towns and cities across the UK. "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime; criminals must be brought to justice." The Bureau currently has 25 active joint police operations spread across 13 police forces. Since its formation in July 2006, the Bureau has been instrumental helping police to make nearly 300 arrests of people who were trying to defraud To make a Misrepresentation of an existing material fact, knowing it to be false or making it recklessly without regard to whether it is true or false, intending for someone to rely on the misrepresentation and under circumstances in which such person does rely on it to his or insurers, leading to 29 convictions and prison sentences totalling more than 20 years.. |
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