How to prevent ‘crash for cash’ with a cam on your dash

Fake car crashes or ‘Crash for cash’ scams – where criminals deliberately cause a fake crash to make fraudulent insurance claims – are on the rise, and reportedly costing honest motorists £400 million per year in insurance claims, according to the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB). So how can you ensure you don’t fall prey to this scam while on the road? Try installing a cam on your dash!

It sounds scary, but no one wants to be the victim of fraud – especially if it involves deliberate damage to your car. Whether you drive for your job or just a weekend leisure driver, there are a few ways you can increase your road safety and avoid getting caught up in a scam:

First, do you live in an area where these scams are prevalent? Crime Stoppers has released a map of the top 20 UK districts where these scams happen, so if you live near these areas, be extra vigilant when you’re driving.

How to spot a scam

According to the Insurance Fraud Bureau, the tell-tale signs that you've been in a Crash for Cash scam include:

• The other driver is far too calm for someone that's been involved in a car accident

• They have already written down their insurance details before the accident happened

• Any injuries appear to be completely at odds with the force of the impact

Catch the culprits on camera

Using a car journey recorder could save you money by catching the culprits on camera - whilst improving your road safety in the long-term. This is exactly what happened recently when a driver installed a car journey recorder in his car and managed to catch the fraudsters staging a collision, which ultimately saved him thousands in an insurance claim!

Car journey recorders also help to catch culprits who cause damage to your car for example, in a car park. Statistics show that 1 in 6 people won’t leave their details after damaging your parked car, but if you have a dash cam, you have more chance of tracking them down – like what happened recently with the owner of an Aston Martin whose dashboard camera caught a man deliberately scratching his parked car in a supermarket car park!

Benefits of installing a car journey recorder:

• Protects Against Crash-for-Cash Claims – “But the accident wasn’t my fault!” we hear you say. Well, now you have video evidence of the event! By giving this video evidence to your insurance company you can prove how this accident happened and keep your no claims discount safe and your insurance premiums low.

• Improves your driving – By recording your journeys, and watching them playback, you’ll be more aware of your driving techniques, and identify areas for improvement.

• Protects Against New Driving Laws – New driving laws for Lane-Hogging and Tailgating are being enforced by UK Police with fixed penalty fines of up-to £100 and 3 penalty points. With a car journey recorder, you will have video evidence to challenge any charges and prove you’re innocent!

• Improves Road Conditions – Banish those pesky potholes! Show your video evidence of road conditions such as potholes to local councils and road authorities, and use the evidence for any insurance claims for damage caused to your vehicle.

Recommended Car Journey Recorders (DVRs)

If you’re planning on invested in a car journey recorder then here are our top picks:

At just £39.99, we recommend the DVR012. This mini rotating portable car DVR is HD 720P resolution to clearly record your journey. It comes with a handy bracket, to easily mount the camera on the front windscreen of your car. It can also be connected to your DVD player, home PC, smart phone, or any monitors which can display the video directly.

Alternatively, the DVR015 is an Android DVR unit from Xtrons. At a budget price of £25.99, it comes with all the features you’d expect from a pricier model, such as HD Wide Dynamic Camera with Clear Pictures and a 100 Degree Wide Angle Camera. It’s also super easy to install!

View more car journey recorders here

As you can see, for a small investment you can protect yourself in the event that you are victim to this scam which could result in an expensive insurance claim, as well as improving your driving skills and overall road safety. Plus - some insurance companies are even offering premium discounts for drivers with a car journey recorder fitted as they will reduce insurance claims.

Happy driving!

Established 10 years ago, Xtrons has become a leader in-car entertainment products, car accessories and car electronics. With a focus on reliable products, exceptional customer service and simple pricing, everything we do is focused  on keeping you, the customer, happy. For more information, feel free to say hello and contact our friendly team today.