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TOP TIPS HOW TO COMBAT CRASH-FOR-CASH CRIMINALS
Page 51
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Ensure your drivers are vigilant — without putting their safety at risk. Crash-for-cash rings are sophisticated operations managed by organised criminal gangs. Fraud detection is crucial, but not at the expense of the duties owed to drivers. Where possible, drivers should aim discreetly and non-confrontationalty to: • Record what happened before, during and after the incident.
• Write down the description and registration number of any vehicles involved and the damage caused.
• Record the names, addresses and contact numbers of all drivers involved — vital for any incident, let alone a fraud investigation.
• Take details of any passengers. The number of passengers and, ideally, their names and addresses will allow the insurer to identify claims for injuries that are either exaggerated or fictitious. • Obtain photographs of the driver, vehicle, passengers and any damage to the third-party vehicle. This can be done with a phone camera or you could equip your vehicles with a disposable camera. Drivers should not take photographs if it will put their safety at risk.
• Don't admit liability for a crash at the roadside. Staged collisions often work by convincing the targeted driver they were at fault.
• Don't be in a rush to leave the scene — follow the correct procedure at the roadside.
• No matter how minor the incident is, let your insurance company know as soon as possible. Fraudulent claims are often inflated versions of relatively minor events.
• Report the incident to the police. If a driver suspects they've been the victim of a staged incident, advise the police of this at the time.