Light commercial vehicles have been involved in almost a third of all deliberate collisions caused by the gangs in a worrying trend that has emerged in the last 12 months.
As UK police, insurers and authorities continue to battle the scourge of crash for cash, bespoke automotive anti-fraud firm APU and international commercial law firm Hill Dickinson, have identified the trend involving drivers of the UK's 3.7 million LCVs.
It seems fraudsters target professional vehicles like vans because they are more likely to be fully insured and their drivers are often working to a tight deadline and are therefore less likely to dispute liability.
One in seven personal injury claims in the UK - some 69,500 a year - are linked to suspected crash for cash scams costing the motor industry £392 million annually.
One investigator and former Detective Inspector of West Midlands Police said "The criminals are banking on the fact that they will simply exchange insurance details and move on. It's cynical, but it works."
With an average value of £30,000, the crash for cash scam is when a vehicle driven by a member of the fraud gang causes a deliberate collision with that of an innocent victim. Traditionally, this involves the fraudster pulling in front of his chosen target and slamming on the brakes, allowing little time for the innocent party to avoid a collision.
Best advice for any Irish LCV driver whose work takes them to the UK is to be vigilant for any suspicious activity on the roads and to at all times maintain concentration and follow the basic rules of save driving.
