Dosh dilemma: Jenni’s ‘crash for cash’ ordeal

It was a bright day in rural Derbyshire when new driver Jenni set out in her first car, loving every bit of her new-found freedom.

As she waited at a crossroads, a moped stopped in front of her. When the lights turned green, the rider pulled forward, then suddenly braked hard halfway through the junction. Jenni had no time to react and gently bumped into the back of the moped.

Luckily, she had been driving slowly, and the impact was minor.

The suspicious request

Jenni jumped out to check, and, to her relief, there was barely a scratch on either vehicle.

But the moped rider insisted he needed photos of her driving licence and insurance documents to “sort out the claim”.

Still shaken, Jenni handed them over without thinking twice.

The shock weeks later

A couple of weeks passed before Jenni received a letter from her insurer. It claimed she’d been responsible for an accident that left the moped rider injured and his bike badly damaged.

That’s when alarm bells rang. Jenni knew what had really happened, and that there had been no serious impact at all.

She had fallen victim to a ‘crash for cash’ scam.

What is a ‘crash for cash’ scam?

A crash for cash scam involves fraudsters staging or deliberately causing accidents to make false insurance claims.

Common tactics include:

• sudden, unexpected braking to cause rear-end collisions
• staging accidents between multiple fraudsters
• demanding personal details or photos at the scene

These scams don’t just lead to fake repair and injury claims, they can also lead to identity theft.

In one case reported by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), a victim’s details were used to take out over 40 fake insurance policies before the fraud was discovered.

According to the IFB, between summer 2024 and March 2025, more than 1,100 fraudulent motor insurance policies were linked to moped scammers, and many more cases likely go unreported.

The IFB warns that fraudsters may take advantage of poor driving conditions in the winter to target more victims.

How to protect yourself

• keep a safe distance, with plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you
• stay alert and pay attention to the vehicles around you, and look for suspicious driving or erratic braking
• be cautious at intersections and don't assume a driver waving you to go is giving you an all-clear, use your own judgment
• look beyond the car in front and if you see something unusual ahead, slow down and be prepared for sudden stops
• watch out for low-speed collisions, as scammers often target low-speed accidents at junctions, and might even throw their vehicle to the ground to make it seem worse than it is

What to do if you suspect a scam

• stay calm and don't admit liability at the scene, even if you think you might be at fault
• get details from the other party, but also note the vehicle's make, model and licence number. If there are witnesses, try to get their contact information
• inform your insurance company about the incident and your suspicions
• report the incident immediately to the police and to the Insurance Fraud Bureau 

And, as Jenni warns, “always be careful who you share your information with”.