Car fraud 'is rife' to fund big crime (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Car fraud 'is rife' to fund big crime
7:41am Monday 8th December 2008 in
Fraudsters behind “crash for cash” insurance scams are using their illegal money to finance serious organised crime like drug trafficking and gun running, investigators have revealed.
The Bradford district, and in particular Keighley, is one of the country’s “hotspots” for such insurance frauds, with 23 fraudulent claims – with potential payouts of more than £1 million – being uncovered by investigators.
And police say that figure is just “the tip of the iceberg”.
Detective Sergeant Ben McDonald, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said the fraudsters used three methods – claiming for accidents that had not happened, staged accidents and contrived collisions, or “slam-ons,” where innocent third party motorists were deliberately involved.
He said systems in the competitive insurance industry were open to abuse and needed to be reviewed. Det Sgt McDonald said many more accidents and insurance claims were being recorded but claims were now being questioned more vigorously.
And he said successful prosecutions, like that of Keighley businessman Mohammed Rashid last week, sent out a message to other criminals.
Rashid, 37, the owner of Autotransform in Bradford Street, Keighley, was jailed for five years by a Bradford Crown Court judge after orchestrating false, staged and exaggerated road accidents to fleece insurance companies.
John Beadle, chairman of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, which is working closely with police, said there was growing evidence to show that the proceeds from this type of fraud are used to fund other forms of serious crime including drugs trafficking and gun running.
Det Sgt McDonald said that a substantial amount of pure heroin had been found during raids in another crash for cash inquiry in Keighley.
He said: “It suggests to me that ‘crash-for-cash’ is being used to fund the purchase of hard drugs ready to cut up for street dealing, which is very concerning. It is organised crime.
“This is a multi-million pound industry. It is fraud on an industrial scale.
“Last week’s sentence was a good one. Such sentences act as a deterrent to organised criminal leaders. It sends out a message that we will target big criminals and we hope it will have a ripple effect on criminal organisations. We hope they will look at this and realise they are not untouchable.”
The public can report insurance fraud by ringing the IFB Cheatline on 0800 328 2550 or online at www.insurancefraudbureau.org/report/
Comments(29)
lookout
says...
9:08am Mon 8 Dec 08
tyker
says...
10:08am Mon 8 Dec 08
many years ago I heard of Army trucks being driven deliberately into parked cars: full pay out and no questiuons asked.
However this was all about getting an older car spruced up a bit ready for resale and not about obvious drugs money etc.
Keighley? why not be more specici and say Lawkholme and then people will really fully understand, if they don't already, that these are scams perpetrated by certian groups only.
It is really surprising that there are insurance pay outs at all as many of these cars are allegedly uninsured?
It's about time the police and authorities started getting tough on uninsured, unlicensed and failed MOT cars still on our roads: get tough and over a period of time the problem will become that much less of a burden.
HIT HARD AND OFTEN IN CERTAIN AREAS AND MONITOR THE EVENTS!!
blackvanman
says...
11:07am Mon 8 Dec 08
tyker
says...
11:17am Mon 8 Dec 08
and any idea of ethnicity of the claimants?
having witnessed an accident near Valley Parade Ioferred my name to both drivers in the event they needed it: for a simple minor bump I WAS AMAZED TO RECEIVE DOCUMENTS FROM VARIOUS SOCLICITORS SAYING THEIR CLIENTS WERE PURSUING SUBSTANTIVE INJURY CLAIMS!!!
Funny but both drivers and passengers of both cars were running around like headless chickens immediately after the accident and no ambulances were called.
I put in a report to that effect and guess what:I was never contacted again!!
Apollo
says...
11:49am Mon 8 Dec 08
The people doing this are already criminals. Of course they are using the proceeds to funds other criminal activity. That's how it works.
They may be criminals but the basic laws of economics still apply.
More Sensible than Sensible
says...
12:27pm Mon 8 Dec 08
No surprise there then.
The truth is out there for those who choose to seek and not follow the path of ignorant towing of official lines.
Tanny
says...
1:49pm Mon 8 Dec 08
I pursued a claim for whiplash since suffering an injury to my back and neck( I was stationary he came up with some speed hit my car in the rear - and his car was a right off!)
But ok back to the point we need action as Im sick and tired of reports saying "bradford low crime - low car crime car crime on the decrease" but you ring an insurance company for a quote you get blasted - why oh bradford high risk - how the hell is it high risk when car crime is or has fallen!! ok my rant over
tyker
says...
1:51pm Mon 8 Dec 08
my comment was specifically about teh comments made by blackmanvan as opposed to the comments in the article.
my experience ,a s reported above, involved Asians-- at least these were insured.
Why are teh authorites unwilling to mount campaigs on a weekly basis in areas of known vehicular illegality.
the last time they made an effort it was reported as a massive success.
In my business if I find something is successful, achieves the targets and makes more profit then |I stay with it.
so why are the authorities so slow to enforce these matters: is it fear of being regarding as racist!!!
Tanny
says...
1:51pm Mon 8 Dec 08
What other good examples have you seen ??
Reckless
says...
2:03pm Mon 8 Dec 08
Fair point but lets not get on the Police's back...... The AUTHORITIES is more accurate. The Police do their job and get blamed when the law and judges hand out garbage sentences. EVERY cop wants these wan&ers out of society, EVERY cop agrees with the general public.
BLAME the people who control the sentences, force them to hand out penalties that will make these filthy cheating bar stewards behave or go to jail.
Is it that difficult to see your worships? Stop complicating things and stop looking after their 'human rights'.... they lose the right to human rights when they cross the line. Take their liberty and keep it.
Tanny
says...
2:34pm Mon 8 Dec 08
The whole thing is seen as a easy money making scheme since its an "accident"
Now investigating an accident costs money hence ur premiums are up year on year!! but hey you insurance companies have raked in the money over the years, just like the oil lot and the idiot city workers and backs etc etc etc etc
tyker
says...
3:01pm Mon 8 Dec 08
as regards enforcement it is the
responsibility of the police and teh police alone to investigate offences and get convictions.
As opposed to other offences the uninsured driver, unlicensed car etc has been made an easier target.
WHEN SUCH IS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE IS SEIZEDED AND HELD UNTIL ALL MATTERS ARE CORRECTED:IF NOT CORRECTED WITHIN14 DAYS THE VEHICLE IS SCRAPPED.
SO there is no magistrate's court appearance and no other authority involved.
PERHAPS we should have a department of transportation as they have in USA: they have full powers.
staff it properly, provide enough vehcles and make the rules crystal clear and start the seizure programme:
enfore the law to it's fullest extent and compliance will ensue and do it without favour to one group of people!!!
alas poor bradford I new it well
says...
3:45pm Mon 8 Dec 08
lanzaman
says...
4:48pm Mon 8 Dec 08
lanzaman
says...
5:20pm Mon 8 Dec 08
tyker
says...
6:09pm Mon 8 Dec 08
so not on the phone then or texting!!!
low life: sentence is far too lenient as effectively he has murdered the family.
no doubt his new frienbds inside will have something to say about his antics at the wheel. was he insured and how could he afford to be driving a car: drunk,mmmmmmm thought that alcohol was a big no no!!
the good old t and a are supposed to report ALL the facts are they not so why be economic with the truth --did they think we would be offended?.
why has the t and a not allowed comnent on that story.
mrs walker
says...
9:17pm Mon 8 Dec 08
Next!
born n bred
says...
12:27am Tue 9 Dec 08
bradz_mufc
says...
1:17am Tue 9 Dec 08
white_envy
says...
2:53am Tue 9 Dec 08
blackvanman
says...
7:56am Tue 9 Dec 08
Tanny wrote:other good example was a crash on the main road outside my work where a car drove into a parked vehicle, when insurance company became involved the driver claimed the parked vehicle had driven into him, and he had 3 witnesess to back it up, and by the wat Tanny- no one likes a smart arse
Seen a good examples of insuarnce fraud, an empty car rolled into and empty vehicle near where i work, spoke to the owner of the vehicle that rolled two weeks later and he said 4 people who were supposed to have been in the car it hit had claimed for whiplash!!!! What other good examples have you seen ??
blackvanman
says...
8:26am Tue 9 Dec 08
tyker wrote:Tyker- dont mind saying, all 4 who were not there but claimed for whiplash were asain
blackvanman and any idea of ethnicity of the claimants? having witnessed an accident near Valley Parade Ioferred my name to both drivers in the event they needed it: for a simple minor bump I WAS AMAZED TO RECEIVE DOCUMENTS FROM VARIOUS SOCLICITORS SAYING THEIR CLIENTS WERE PURSUING SUBSTANTIVE INJURY CLAIMS!!! Funny but both drivers and passengers of both cars were running around like headless chickens immediately after the accident and no ambulances were called. I put in a report to that effect and guess what:I was never contacted again!!
alas poor bradford I new it well
says...
8:32am Tue 9 Dec 08
white_envy wrote:"white groups don't have the brains to do anything other than whinge"
tyker...your nothing but a bitter old f@rt. whitegroups dont have the brains to do anything other than whinge and point the finger at easy targets created bythe media these days. stop being a hater and live your life...mightnot be too late to move on from the banger you own to a car similar to what 'certain groups' drive...inother words...nice motors
Well this is clearly a comment from a person who admires the criminal antics of the scumbags who carry out these crimes.When will you and all the other admirers of cheap scammy frauds and other such crimes realise that the only reason they can do such things in the first place is because the majority of educated,honest decent people don't do it. The morons who do these things are the bottom of the pile and if we all decided to live this way they would still be bottom of the pile. BRAINS AH! you can not be fair with these people, they look upon it as a sign of weakness and obviously brainless.
alas poor bradford I new it well
says...
8:50am Tue 9 Dec 08
tyker
says...
9:03am Tue 9 Dec 08
let us hope you or your family never get hit by a flying Audi driven by a drunk who is pleasuring himself at the wheel.
sorry to say though that there is a more than reasonable chnace you will be hit by an uninsured driver, untaxed or unsafe vehicle sooner or later and that you will relaise that those operating within the law are at teh mercy of scum bags who chose to opertae ourtside it--unles , of course, YOU ARE PART OF THAT FRATERNITY.
I have no envy of those who refuse, even though they can afford to pay there dues.
The sad thing is those with power to allow those of us wishing to drive safely and in an insured way who we, as tax payers, pay are letting us down AGAIN. The polcie are frightened to police for fear of political backlash and that should NEVER happen in a democracy.
So rather than havinga go at me for my views look at teh wider well established picture: 38% of vehicles in certain areas --which include some predominantly white areas-- are driving illegally.
We pay the police to police: they are not doing that adequately or properly.
Going back to the AUDI incident: funny how many young Asians driving fast and big cars are "car dealers"--- I wonder what their tax returns actually say that is if they declare their income.
my motor is a nice motor and, better still, its fully insured, licensed and legally allowed on the road as is the driver!! However when I have the misfortune to have to drive in Bradford I prefer to do it in my firms. oldest , but still legal, Transit for obvious reasons.
At least the masturbating car dealer can now do it at Her Majesty's pleasure for the next 8 years or so assuming, of course, as a child killer he survives that long such is the hatred of such people within the prison in mate population!
alas poor bradford I new it well
says...
9:45am Tue 9 Dec 08
I have another theory that many of these cars a obtained through the motability system, which allows massive up-grades at a modest cost, and extra drivers can be put on the insurance. yet another fiddle.
Tanny
says...
1:38pm Tue 9 Dec 08
I have today checked a reg of an Audi Q7 and it comes back saying no insurance- thus illegal to drive on the road - if Im a dealer and I put my dealer plates on it im insured yes- well the last time I saw this it was being driven around without any such plates - maybe waiting for some crash to happen !!??
And as for that low life person who was "pleasuring himself" ( on T&A today) he should be never be allowed to drive - What cars sales garare does or did he own?? An Audi Q7 very expensive too.
Its time to get tough now
white_envy
says...
8:51pm Tue 9 Dec 08
mrs walker
says...
11:03pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Interestingly, both Islam and Christianity frown on such shallow pretensions.
"And the true servants of the Gracious God are those who walk on the earth humbly...And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly but adopt a moderate position" (The Holy Qur'an)
"You cannot serve both God and Money." "..your heart will always be where your riches are." (The Holy Bible)
The person who is confident and at ease with themselves does not need to excite envy by flaunting their wealth or their possessions.
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