A gang of ten men has admitted their involvement in a £320,000 crash-for-cash insurance fraud scheme.
The scheme, which operated between December 2015 and October 2016, involved staged collisions and fraudulent insurance claims. Ringleaders Raju Patel and Kamlesh Vadukul submitted numerous claims for fabricated vehicle damage using stolen identities and false information.
The gang utilised a repair finance service that offered immediate credit for vehicle repairs, enabling them to quickly obtain funds for staged accidents.
The scheme was uncovered when insurers began to suspect the validity of numerous claims, noticing a pattern of suspicious activity, such as policies being taken out shortly before reported collisions.
An investigation by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) revealed that the repair shop listed on the claims had not carried out any of the purported repairs.
All ten individuals involved in the scheme have now pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges. Sentencing is scheduled for 28th and 29th April 2025.
Detective Sergeant Adam Maskell of the IFED emphasised the detrimental impact of such fraudulent activity on honest motorists, as these schemes contribute to increased insurance premiums.
Source: Daily Mail