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| Birmingham tops 'crash for cash' postcodes hotspots | Birmingham tops 'crash for cash' postcodes hotspots |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Birmingham has topped the UK's "crash for cash" postcode league - the second time in a year the city has featured in a table of hotspots for the crime. | Birmingham has topped the UK's "crash for cash" postcode league - the second time in a year the city has featured in a table of hotspots for the crime. |
| The scams are run by fraudsters who manufacture collisions with other road users, hoping to profit from insurance claims. | The scams are run by fraudsters who manufacture collisions with other road users, hoping to profit from insurance claims. |
| In the table, compiled by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), Birmingham had 10 of the top 30 postcodes for the crime. | In the table, compiled by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), Birmingham had 10 of the top 30 postcodes for the crime. |
| Manchester, Bradford, London and Oldham also featured on the list. | Manchester, Bradford, London and Oldham also featured on the list. |
| 'Nationwide problem' | 'Nationwide problem' |
| In total, Birmingham has 10 postcodes on the list. Washwood Heath, Aston and Small Heath were the three worst postcodes for the crime in the UK. | In total, Birmingham has 10 postcodes on the list. Washwood Heath, Aston and Small Heath were the three worst postcodes for the crime in the UK. |
| In Bradford, Frizinghall and Manningham came joint fourth for the numbers of fraudulent claims, while in Manchester the M8 postcode, which includes Cheetham Hill, was ranked sixth. | In Bradford, Frizinghall and Manningham came joint fourth for the numbers of fraudulent claims, while in Manchester the M8 postcode, which includes Cheetham Hill, was ranked sixth. |
| A survey carried out by insurance company Aviva in 2016 said 25% of its 3,000 crash for cash claims last year were in Birmingham. | A survey carried out by insurance company Aviva in 2016 said 25% of its 3,000 crash for cash claims last year were in Birmingham. |
| 'Crash for cash scams cost me £300,000' | |
| "We don't know the exact reason Birmingham features so heavily in these surveys," said Ben Fletcher, the director of the IFB, a not-for-profit organisation set up to detect fraud. | "We don't know the exact reason Birmingham features so heavily in these surveys," said Ben Fletcher, the director of the IFB, a not-for-profit organisation set up to detect fraud. |
| "Obviously, this is a nationwide problem and we have investigations that range from Kent to the North East, but large urban areas tend to be the focal points for these kind of crimes." | "Obviously, this is a nationwide problem and we have investigations that range from Kent to the North East, but large urban areas tend to be the focal points for these kind of crimes." |
| The data applies to the past 12 months. In total, there were 55,573 personal injury claims linked to scams in the UK, the IFB said, costing the insurance industry a total of £340m a year. | The data applies to the past 12 months. In total, there were 55,573 personal injury claims linked to scams in the UK, the IFB said, costing the insurance industry a total of £340m a year. |
| The tell-tale signs you've been in a 'crash for cash' scam | |
| How to avoid becoming a crash for cash victim | |
| 'Catastrophic' | 'Catastrophic' |
| RAF engineer Richard Turner, from Cosford in Shropshire, was caught up in a cash for crash scam. | RAF engineer Richard Turner, from Cosford in Shropshire, was caught up in a cash for crash scam. |
| In October 2014 he was driving over a traffic island on the A41, following a black BMW and an older car. | In October 2014 he was driving over a traffic island on the A41, following a black BMW and an older car. |
| The BMW suddenly changed lanes, then the other car slammed on the brakes, forcing Mr Turner to crash lightly into the back of it. | The BMW suddenly changed lanes, then the other car slammed on the brakes, forcing Mr Turner to crash lightly into the back of it. |
| His suspicions were raised when the male occupants of the vehicle exited clutching their necks. | His suspicions were raised when the male occupants of the vehicle exited clutching their necks. |
| As he exchanged details, Mr Turner tried to ring the other driver's number - only to discover it did not work. | As he exchanged details, Mr Turner tried to ring the other driver's number - only to discover it did not work. |
| He also noticed the driver seemed uncomfortable with him taking photographs of the damage and calling the police to report the crash. | He also noticed the driver seemed uncomfortable with him taking photographs of the damage and calling the police to report the crash. |
| Mr Turner drove home but returned to the island a short time later when he noticed the same cars repeating the same trick three times. | Mr Turner drove home but returned to the island a short time later when he noticed the same cars repeating the same trick three times. |
| He filmed them, rang the police and posted the incident on social media. | He filmed them, rang the police and posted the incident on social media. |
| One man who contacted him on Facebook said the scammers had forced a crash with his wife, who was heavily pregnant at the time. | One man who contacted him on Facebook said the scammers had forced a crash with his wife, who was heavily pregnant at the time. |
| "This is not a victimless crime," said Mr Turner. "Although I told the men I knew it was a scam when they tried to settle the claim, I still had to pay around £400 a year extra to my insurance company in case they did try to force a claim. | "This is not a victimless crime," said Mr Turner. "Although I told the men I knew it was a scam when they tried to settle the claim, I still had to pay around £400 a year extra to my insurance company in case they did try to force a claim. |
| "And in the case of the pregnant driver, a crash could have been catastrophic." | "And in the case of the pregnant driver, a crash could have been catastrophic." |
| Top crash for cash locations in 2017 | |
| Source: The not-for-profit organisation Insurance Fraud Bureau | Source: The not-for-profit organisation Insurance Fraud Bureau |