“The police say they target one area for a period and then, when people get wise, move elsewhere,” she said.
Matt Crabtree, head of financial crime intelligence and investigation strategy at Allianz, agrees. “Organised criminal gangs have evolved their tactics so we’re seeing them move around and use small clusters across wider areas to try to avoid detection,” he said.
According to the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), 2250 London drivers were victims of ‘crash for cash’ bike riders between 2021 and 2023, with many of the suspected fraudsters being couriers.
In an effort to stamp out the crime in the capital, the City of London Police says members of its Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) are working with Trading Standards officers to identify rogue businesses repairing damaged mopeds and scooters.
In June, a combined operation led to the seizure of mopeds believed to have been used in crashes and hundreds of numberplates used to disguise bikes.
The force says IFED and its partners are establishing links between garages suspected of being used by fraudsters and services and individuals believed to be profiting from the crimes.
Meanwhile, the IFB estimates that the value of bogus bike claims now exceeds £27 million; it is believed many thousands of motorists have been victims without realising.
