Man Jailed for "Crash for Cash" Insurance Scam

Mohammed Patel is a man who has played one last scam. The 24-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after he admitted his part in a “crash for cash” conspiracy that netted over £1.6m. 

Patel who resides in Bolton managed to cause at least 93 deliberate car crashes during a 3 year scam. Each crash cost insurers approximately £17,000. The man at the centre of the scam admitted a number of charges at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

It is believed the 24 year old charged £500 a time to stage the accidents. This allowed the “victims” to claim for bogus damages from their insurers.

It is believed that Patel forced a number of low speed crashes by braking suddenly. This was usually staged at roundabouts, thus ensuring that the driver behind would crash into the back of him.

The “Claimants”, who were the ones who usually owned the cars that Patel was in control of, would then demand compensation such as personal injuries, courtesy cars and other legals fees at the expense of other party’s insurers.

Patel netted approximately £46,000 for his role in the conspiracy. The court heard that the actual costs to the UK Insurance industry was extremely high. Patel would use his monies earned from the 3 year scam to pay for holidays and expensive cars for himself and his girlfriend.

During the court proceedings it was made know that the scam was finally exposed when suspicious office workers who overlooked a roundabout in which Patel frequently staged his hoax crashes, noticed the same driver-Patel-at the control of different cars over a period of time and each time he was the one being “hit” up the rear,

Suspicious office workers alerted the police and he was finally arrested after staging two crashes in one day.

After his arrest he pleaded guilty a the earliest opportunity to police.

Officers discovered Patel had paid up to £46,000 into his girlfriend’s account and when her home was searched by police, it was found she had expensive furniture and electrical goods, much higher than her Income Support benefits could afford. Two cars totally £24,000 were also discovered in her ownership, all funded by Patel’s role in the conspiracy.

Apart from his jail sentence, Patel also face a 3 and a half year ban from driving.

According UK Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), they are investigating 28 similar fraud insurance operations similar to the scam Patel headed.