'Cash for crash' motorcyclist lays down moped and drops to floor

by · Mail Online

A 'cash-for-crash' motorcyclist who deliberately swerved in front of a car has been caught faking an accident on camera.

The shocking footage, shared by City of London Police, shows the crook throwing himself to the ground before carefully placing his moped on the road and rolling around on the floor.

The opportune motorcyclist was caught hiding out behind a parked white van on a quiet London street as he waited  for the perfect moment to strike.

After picking out his target, the shameless biker pulled into the road and brazenly raced towards the people carrier.

He then made sure his bike got close enough to the vehicle without making contact, before he jumped off and placed his moped on the floor to limit any damage.

The driver immediately came to a halt and exited his vehicle to check up on the motorcyclist as he slumped to the floor to make it look like he had been hit.

Another passer-by also stepped in to help the biker as he lay down on the floor, unaware that this was all part of an elaborate scheme.

The footage was shared by City of London Police who wanted to raise awareness about 'crash for cash scams'.

The scammer could be seen eyeing up the vehicle before driving up to it and staging the crash
The motorcyclist inched towards the vehicle and gently placed his moped on the road 
He then lay down on the floor to try and fake an insurance claim and was even helped out by a passer-by

'Crash for cash fraud is when drivers or moped riders stage road traffic collisions to profit from fraudulent insurance claims,' they wrote on their video.

'There has been an increase in crash for cash fraud involving mopeds.

'Over 4,000 people were targeted from June 2021 to 2024,' they added.

Police have also warned motorists to watch out for single parked vans near junctions, which 'crash for cash' moped riders often use as hiding spots'.

They also asked motorists to be wary of moped loitering or acting suspiciously in residential areas before overreacting with fake injuries after crashes. 

New figures this month revealed that scams involving moped riders deliberately crashing into other vehicles for bogus insurance claims have soared four-fold in the past year.

As of August, 4,000 people had been targeted by 'crash for cash' schemes in the past three years, analysis of fraudulent claims received by 21 insurers showed.

Direct Line's intelligence manager Sarah Cashford said there has been a 'exponentially massive rise' in this type of scam due to new hourly pay-as-you go policies being ushered in for delivery drivers.

Gangs have been working out it is easier to claim compensation as a moped riders since changes to whiplash rules have hampered car drivers from claiming compensation, she explained. 

Ms Cashford told The Telegraph: 'When you come off a moped, different things could happen to your body. It is obviously going to increase your personal injury reward.'