| There are several travel accident scams invading | | | | The criminals may even attend doctor and |
| the UK. With an increase in personal injury and | | | | hospital appointments for medical advice, because |
| insurance claims, the Insurance Fraud Bureau is | | | | this will make their claim look even more genuine. |
| very busy. | | | | Next is the 'drive down.' This is one of the easiest |
| They are responsible for investigating every | | | | scams to fake. These occur in busy sections of |
| suspected fake insurance claim. However, due to | | | | traffic, where you're trying to get out of a lane |
| the high number of scams it is impossible to track | | | | and attempt to merge into the main flow of |
| them all. | | | | traffic. |
| Over the last 9 years, fraudulent insurance | | | | The driver behind will signal to you to go, as |
| investigators have exposed over 25,000 false or | | | | though allowing you to enter the lane in front of |
| theatrical accidents. | | | | him, at which point, they will actually speed up and |
| It is thought that the scam artists have been | | | | slam into the back of your car. |
| benefiting from a 200 million pound profit each | | | | When the authorities arrive on the scene, the |
| year. Throughout the UK, there are many of | | | | driver will deny any knowledge of letting you in |
| these gangs operating. | | | | front, and therefore it will look like you entered |
| There are a few scams that are known, so | | | | the lane unlawfully. |
| knowing what to look out for can greatly reduce | | | | The third trick is the 'sideswipe.' This too is very |
| the chances of becoming a victim. | | | | easy to stage, as all it needs is a driver to drift |
| There is the 'Swoop and Squat' scam. These | | | | slightly out of their lane whilst turning a corner. |
| occur when drivers are stuck in heavy traffic on | | | | The car next to you, will purposely speed up and |
| the motorway, and this is also the time when | | | | let you bump them. This is effective, because as |
| people become inpatient and look for short cuts. | | | | you were outside your own lane (though only |
| It is common for a driver in front of you to be | | | | slightly), the car has a claim against you. |
| forced to slam on the breaks when another | | | | Lastly, is the 'T-Bone'. This is very difficult to |
| driver cuts in front of him/her. | | | | stage, as this trick requires 3 sets of people, you, |
| In many cases this is a genuine accident, however | | | | the other driver and witnesses. |
| for these gangs it is a way to gain money | | | | This happens when you are about to cross an |
| through insurance fraud. | | | | intersection and a car from a side street will |
| This technique is known commonly to the police | | | | accelerate and hit you. |
| as the 'swoop and squat' and it is easy to see | | | | This can not only scare you, but the panic clouds |
| why. The first car will swoop in, whilst the second | | | | your judgment, on what really happened. When |
| car squats in front of you. | | | | the police arrive, the driver and the planted |
| Usually the squat car has passengers that will all | | | | witnesses will state that you were in the wrong. |
| the give the same statement that you rear - | | | | They could argue that you went through a red |
| ended them. | | | | light, or that you were not paying attention. Either |
| It is then frequent that these passengers will | | | | way it can take months to counter-argue and to |
| complain of whiplash or any other difficult to | | | | prove you were innocent. |
| prove injuries. | | | | |