Van insurance news
12/12/2008

Warning over "cheap" criminals conducting van scams

Scottish courier company Eagle Couriers has warned van-driving motorists to be alert to van insurance scammers operating across the UK.

The van insurance scammers, sometimes known as "crash for cash" gangs, stage accidents by braking heavily in front of a van or lorry so that they can then claim against the van or lorry driver's insurance.

A second scam has also come to the attention of many within the courier and heavy goods industries. It involves criminals flagging down vans or lorries under the pretence of alerting a driver to a vehicle fault. The criminals then coax the driver out of his or her van before making off with it themselves.

A director with Eagle Couriers commented, "We have warned all our staff about both of these scenarios so they can be vigilant against them and will be able to realise if a scam is about to be perpetrated against them. We regularly carry sensitive documents and information in our vehicles, so it is essential that our staff are informed and on their guard at all times to ensure the safe delivery of these materials.

"However, other drivers also need to be aware of these practices and ensure that they do not get targeted by these people. The con-artists tend to target goods vehicles to stage deliberate crashes against, as they are heavier and do not brake as quickly as a normal car, but they have also been known to target other big vehicles such as 4x4s and large family saloons.

"We recommend that drivers stay alert to these practices on the road and, if they are targeted by one of these gangs, to make sure that they do not take liability for the accident."

He also advised that van insurance companies are "becoming wise to claimants who stage deliberate crashes, so it is vital that you not only take the number plate and details of the other drivers involved, but also write a detailed account of what happened."

Commercial vehicle insurance companies will certainly be watching this space.