IFB reveals top cash for crash UK hotspots

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has revealed the 30 postcodes that are home to the most cash for crash scams in the UK.

Topping the table is Birmingham, with 10 hotspots in the list. The West Midlands city is home to the top three cash for crash postcode hotspots in the country. This is not the first time that Birmingham has made fraud-related headlines this year. In July, Birmingham was also revealed as the number one UK location for opportunistic fraud.

Close behind are Manchester and Bradford, which each have five postcodes appearing in the IFB list. Bradford’s BD8 takes the fourth spot, while Manchester’s M8 ranks at number six. Oldham also features in the top 10, with OL8 at number nine.

There was a far stronger showing for fraudsters from the North than the South, with N18 and N9 in London the lowest postcodes to feature in the top 30, placed in 22nd and 26th respectively. Enfield also had one postcode, EN3 in the list. Bolton, Sheffield, Liverpool, Wakefield and Blackburn all featured. All the cities to feature are shown in the table below. 

Number of postcodes in the Top 30

While the data highlights the hotspots, it does not mean that motorists should stop being vigilant when driving in other cities. The IFB was keen to ensure that motorists do not take their safety for granted while in an area not on the list, as cash for crash fraudsters could operate anywhere in the UK.

The dangers of cash for crash fraudsters can be huge for the innocent motorists who get caught up in their attempts to make a quick buck out of insurers. There is the risk of injury and one fatality is known to have been caused by this type of scam in the past year.

IFB director Ben Fletcher said: “These scams may seem to some to be a harmless way to beat the system and get an easy pay out with minimal risk. The reality is that not only do those people now stand a very good chance of getting caught and facing the consequences, but these scams put other motorist’s lives at risk.”

He added: ”These hotspots may be the worst affected areas for these types of scams, but crash for crash collisions can happen anywhere, so it’s imperative that road users are aware of them, exercise appropriate caution and if they believe they’ve been a victim, report it as soon as they can.”