FIVE postcode areas of Bradford are among the UK’s top 30 ‘crash for cash’ hotspots, according to a study.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has ranked the top 30 postcode districts for fraudulent scams.

‘Crash for cash’ scams are where a fraudster, or group of fraudsters, stages an accident by deliberately causing a collision on the road, solely for the purpose of financial gain. The IFB's rankings also include incidents where fraudsters have damaged their own vehicle, often with a sledge-hammer or blunt object, to make it appear as if it has been involved in an accident.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The UK's top 30 postcode areas for crash for cash' scams have been revealed. Picture: Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB)

The BD8 postcode, featuring Manningham, Girlington, White Abbey, Four Lane Ends, Whetley, Westbourne Green, West Park, Lower Grange, Rhodesway, Crossley Hall, Fairweather Green, Belle Vue, and BD9, including Frizinghall, Heaton, Daisy Hill, Haworth Road Estate, Chellow Heights and Chellow Grange, were ranked joint fourth.

Meanwhile BD3, including Barkerend, Bradford Moor, Thornbury, Eastbrook, Pollard Park, parts of Laisterdyke, Undercliffe, Wapping, finished in seventh place.

The BD7 postcode, which includes Great Horton, Lidget Green, Scholemoor, Horton Bank Top, Horton Grange, was 12th in the list, while BD5, which covers Bankfoot, Little Horton, West Bowling, Canterbury, Marshfields, Ripleyville, was ranked 21st.

These criminals often target innocent road users to profit from fraudulent insurance claims, putting motorist’s lives at risk.

Fraudulent motor claims submitted following the accident can also result in false personal injury and credit hire claims.

Such scams are estimated to cost the industry £336 million each year, with a single collision potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Birmingham has the highest level of representation on the IFB’s map, with ten postcode districts featuring, including the top three postcodes.

Councillor Shabir Hussain (Lab, Manningham, which is in the BD8 postcode) said it was unfair that the crash for cash scams have seen innocent driver’s insurance premiums rise.

He said: “These are unbelievable figures.

“No wonder people have huge insurance premiums in our area.

“It’s very shocking and innocent people are having to pay more.”

Cllr Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton, within the BD9 postcode) said it has been a problem highlighted to him by residents at a number of ward councillor surgeries.

He said: “We are working closely with then police to stop these scams in our area.

“The high insurance premium figures because of these scams are killing people.

“It’s really unfair for good drivers to be affected by it.

“It has been raised to us a number of times by members of the public.

“These scams are causing us all havoc.”

Jason Potter, head of investigations at IFB, said “Bradford has five postcodes that feature in our top 30 postcode district hotspots data, three of which are in the top ten, indicating that there have been a higher number of crash for cash incidents in these areas.

“However, crash for cash is a nationwide problem that cannot be ignored.

“Last year, this type of fraud cost £336m, which is not an insignificant amount, and shows there is still a lot of work to be done.”

The IFB says it is working closely with police and insurers to clamp down on these criminals and ultimately taking them off the roads and putting them behind bars.