Yet Another Www Scam If Your Looking For Insurance

[Bluesman]

Are you one of the 20,000 motorists who could be driving uninsured, after being duped by a 'ghost broker'? Experts are warning that this sophisticated scam is now pulling in thousands of British motorists, and leaving them completely exposed in the event of an accident.

So how does the scam work, and how can you protect yourself?

How it works

The fraudsters will advertise cheap insurance, at a much lower cost than the individual can get from a genuine broker or comparison site. They may have their own website, or put up notices in supermarkets and newsagents. They may even put a leaflet under your windscreen wiper when you are parked.

Some will claim to have superior broking skills in order to get you a better deal. Others will claim to have a staff discount from an insurer.

They work in any number of ways. Some will simply fail to secure any cover at all. They take money ether in cash or by credit card, and send fake documents. The driver is then uninsured, and in the event of an accident could find themselves stung for tens of thousands of pounds.

Others will buy policies on behalf of the driver, but will alter significant details such as the age or occupation of the driver in order to cut the premium. The policy will then be invalid because the details are wrong.

Meanwhile, some may take a payment from the driver and then use stolen credit card details to pay the insurer. Others will take a 'deposit' from the driver by credit card, and then will use the credit card details to run up debts in the driver's name.

Mike

[steve2006]

Nothing surprises me any more in this country and no doubt if they were ever to be caught ( highly unlikely) they would no doubt be given a suspended sentence and unfortunately this would not be the rope type!

It always pays to check your cover is in force and on the MID database (www.askmid.com) especially when taking out or renewing your policy as it can take a week or more to appear on there.In the meantime carry a copy of your cover note or policy with you incase you are stopped by the police as this will prevent your car being towed and impounded.

It also wouldn't hurt to regularly check on MID to make sure the cover you paid for is still in place especially with this type of scam.

I have taken this years policy out with " Nigerian Motor Cover LTD" at a very good price, strange thing is they only take cash!

[Bluesman]

Nothing surprises me any more in this country and no doubt if they were ever to be caught ( highly unlikely) they would no doubt be given a suspended sentence and unfortunately this would not be the rope type!

It always pays to check your cover is in force and on the MID database (www.askmid.com) especially when taking out or renewing your policy as it can take a week or more to appear on there.In the meantime carry a copy of your cover note or policy with you incase you are stopped by the police as this will prevent your car being towed and impounded.

It also wouldn't hurt to regularly check on MID to make sure the cover you paid for is still in place especially with this type of scam.

I have taken this years policy out with " Nigerian Motor Cover LTD" at a very good price, strange thing is they only take cash!

Brilliant. They advertise on Watchdog.

Mike

[dave1]

Nothing surprises me any more in this country

I read the story this morning and in all honesty it does surprise me that people get pulled in by these scams. I also wonder why it is sensationalised by the press.......for example: Who are these "experts" claiming that "20,000 motorists COULD be driving uninsured" and how do they arrive at these figures? Would any reasonably sane person really believe that "staff discount" could be given by anyone to masses of motorists? or that a broker has superior broking skills?

It's like these people who "win" on lotteries/competitions that they haven't entered.........what on earth makes them fall for it?

Out of interest, if paid by credit card OR debit card you should be able to at least get your money back.