Two men were caught on CCTV staging a car accident by pretending to lie on the ground injured for cash, as police issue a warning over fraudulent gangs’ new tactics.
Khuram Mohammad, 41, was seen setting up a bicycle with an accomplice in a remote country lane in Leeds as part of a crash-for-cash illegal insurance claim on May 27, 2024.
Cash-for-crash schemes are a form of insurance fraud where drivers stage collisions to get financial compensation.
Mohammad and another man, who has now fled the UK, were caught on video propping up the stationary bicycle before getting back into the car to drive towards it at speed.
One man is then seen getting out of the vehicle and lying down on the road, pretending to be injured, while the other calls 999.
Admiral Insurance received a claim from the ‘cyclist’ soon after via a letter, alleging damage to the bicycle and personal injury.
The claim read that the alleged injured man had been on the main road travelling up the hill, when another man driving in the opposite direction swerved onto the other side of the road and crashed into him.
The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) investigated the case and found the claims to be fraudulent and found misuse of emergency services.
Kharim Mohammad, 41, staged the scene of a crash with a cyclist in a remote country lane in Leeds with an accomplice
The pair set up a stationary bike before getting back into the vehicle to run it over
Investigators established that the collision had been deliberately orchestrated after reviewing CCTV footage, which provided independent evidence of what had happened.
Khuram Mohammad, of Bradford, was sentenced after a trial in May this year to 20 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months for fraud by false representation.
Mohammad had attempted to make a false insurance claim against Admiral Insurance, including fraudulent injury claims and the misuse of emergency services.
The other suspect who fled the UK after the incident remains wanted.
The blatant crime comes as police issued a warning to the public over new tactics being used by criminals amid a rise in cases of staged insurance crashes.
Detective Chief Inspector Nik Jethwa, Head of the IFED, said: ‘Crash for cash fraud is a growing problem and criminals are becoming more aggressive in how they carry out these schemes.
‘We want the public to be more aware than ever of the tactics being used, which put innocent road users at risk.
‘Please take extra care at difficult junctions and roundabouts and follow our safety advice if you suspect something is wrong.
‘There is also a real risk of identity theft, so consider the potential consequences if you are involved in a collision. IFED will continue to pursue those who exploit vulnerable people.
‘We are working with Nextbase to amplify this message and to highlight one of the simplest ways to protect yourself: consider getting a dashcam.’
Police said insurance fraud crimes are on the rise, issuing a public warning about new, more aggressive tactics
More than £25.3million has been involved in suspected crash-for-cash fraud cases over the last five years
Criminals are moving beyond simple staged bumps to more aggressive and targeted methods designed to pressure victims into giving them immediate payments, or inflating their claims
Police said the new scams are combining aggressive staging, roadside data theft and collusion with repair networks.
They threaten the public’s physical safety, finances and identities.
One part of the con involved demanding a photo of their victim’s driving licence – which can then be used in identity fraud.
The scams are on the rise, with the IFED investigating more than £25.3million in suspected crash-for-cash fraud cases over the last five years – with roughly 75 per cent involving staged or induced collisions.
Criminals are moving beyond simple staged bumps to more aggressive and targeted methods designed to pressure victims into giving them immediate payments, or inflating their claims.
Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, said: ‘Crash-for-cash scams rely on uncertainty.
‘If there is no independent evidence, drivers will find it difficult to prove their innocence for an incident that happened in a matter of seconds.
‘Video footage has been proven to help by providing an impartial and irrefutable record of events.
‘That’s why we always encourage drivers to keep any footage after a collision and share it with their insurer or police if requested.’
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