Crash for cash fraudster’s found guilty bringing up landmark milestone for fraud fighting team

A CRASH for cash gang has been found guilty of fraud offences for deliberately causing a crash in Warwickshire. These convictions bring up the milestone 500th conviction for the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), an organisation that leads the insurance industry's collective fight against insurance fraud.

The trial, which has been ongoing since Monday 8th May, concluded with four individuals convicted of Fraud by False representation for their part in the fraud.

During the trial, the court heard how the group ventured onto public roads with the sole intention of deliberately crashing into innocent and unsuspecting members of the public, putting people at a very real risk of serious injury. The gang were then submitting multiple claims to insurance companies for fake injuries, vehicle damage and solicitor costs.

The main orchestrator of the fraud, Amar Hussain, pleaded guilty before the trial began, with his acquaintances Riaz Wazim and Benjamin Hamula standing trial. The pair were found guilty of making false insurance claims. Another individual Sahood Khan, who was also part of the scam to make fake claims, pleaded guilty before the trial. All four men are from the Birmingham and Oldbury areas of the West Midlands.

IFB were originally contacted by Warwickshire Police with intelligence of suspected induced crashes taking place in and around Warwickshire. Working closely with the police, IFB provided support in reviewing seized letters and documentation that the gang were using to commit the fraud, ensuring Warwickshire Police had a complete understanding of the gang’s activity which could be taken forward for prosecution. Sentencing is due to take place on 8th June 2017.

Crash for cash scams cost the insurance industry £336m each year.