Beware recession motoring scams

The recession is provoking an increasing number of car-selling scams and even deliberate car accidents to force false insurance claims against innocent drivers.

Underinsuring motor vehicles is also becoming more common, with drivers putting themselves at financial risk as they lack adequate cover in the face of a genuine accident.

Deliberate car crashes

Crashing cars on purpose in order to make a false insurance claim is an illegal, desperate measure that is on the increase.

The criminal driver will typically brake suddenly when leaving a junction, sometimes disabling their lights beforehand, so the car behind is unaware they are about to brake and crashes into them.

Deliberate braking puts people's lives at risk, says the UK’s Insurance Fraud Bureau. Fraudulent insurance claims also add approximately £40 to every premium paid by honest policy holders each year, reported the Bureau.

Car-selling scams

A major car-selling scam has been highlighted this summer by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). After trawling ads placed in a newspaper or online, cold callers then phone the car seller and offer to match the price of their cars with those of definite buyers.

The victim is asked to pay a fee upfront, however it then emerges that there are no buyers. Any money paid is gone for good. Read our article on Buying a car privately.

Underinsurance: the dangers

Many consumers have cut their motor and home insurance cover to save in the recession.

But cutting cover without advice can put you at risk of underinsurance.

See how Direct Line can help you lower your premiums, get a car insurance quote today.