Blackburn targeted by car insurance fraudsters

Fri, 08 Dec 2006

Blackburn is a hotspot for criminals making fake car insurance claims, according to new research.

Gangs are staging crashes in the Lancastrian town in order to make car insurance claims and generate money, a study from the Insurance Fraud Bureau has found.

The car insurance fraud is more prevalent in Blackburn than any other UK location, with 1,710 incidents taking place since 1999, the Blackburn Citizen reports.

Across the nation, the bogus claims have added five per cent to car insurance premiums each year.

Many of these involve members of the public, with perpetrators performing unnecessary emergency stops designed to make a vehicle behind crash into them - at which point they lodge a car insurance claim.

John Beadle, chairman of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, said: "The criminal gangs targeting honest motorists are ruthless and innocent lives are being put at risk.

"We must take a rigorous approach to this significant national problem which is impacting many cities across the UK and requires an urgent solution.

He added that the car insurance industry, general public and police can all help to tackle the crime.

According to the Bolton News, Blackburn and nearby Oldham and Bolton are all in the top five hotspots for this car insurance crime.


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