Car insurance con

Addresses in the Western Isles are being used in car insurance scams in what is a growing crime.

Unscrupulous conmen pose as middlemen, known as "ghost brokers" and obtain cheap premiums from reputable insurance company by registering it at an island address.

A forged cover letter is given to unsuspecting high-risk motorists who are delighted at getting a discounted deal.

But, as the falsely obtained policy is not valid, the ripped-off driver is without legal cover, risking criminal prosecution. They could also be liable for any damage caused while driving without insurance, which could include compensation if someone is injured.

Islanders whose addresses are being exploited can also get stung by facing higher insurance rates or been refused cover in the future.

The City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) - a specialist police unit set up to tackle insurance rackets - is gathering evidence from people in Lewis and Harris whose addresses have been used for fake policies sold in England.

Officers are also contacting dozens of residents in Aberdeen, Inverness and Skye as part of ongoing investigations into a suspected ghost broker from Bradford, Yorkshire, who was arrested in March.

One of the tell-tale signs is that residents in rural areas may receive letters from insurers that are addressed to people that don’t live there.

Detective chief Inspector Oliver Little, of the IFED said: “If you’re receiving mail and insurance documents addressed to somebody you don’t know or doesn’t live at your address, then it could be part of a bigger fraud."

"We want to try and make local people aware that their addresses might be used by fraudsters as part of a ghost broking scam.

“We don’t want people to just ignore these letters and anyone receiving mail like this should call the insurer which is listed on the envelope and ask to be put through to their fraud department.”

Islanders are advised to carefully check all the letters they receive in the post and to whom they are addressed.

If insurance documents arrive for somebody with no connections to your address, then call the insurer they’ve come from and ask to be put through to their fraud department – you will usually be able to identify from the envelope when a letter has come from an insurer.

The detective warned: "Remember, if fraudsters are using your address then it can make it more difficult for you to obtain insurance in the future, so it is in your interest to check all the mail you receive."

The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) is a specialist police unit dedicated to tackling insurance fraud across England and Wales.

Funded by members of the Association of British Insurers and Lloyd’s of London, and hosted by the City of London Police, the team acts with operational independence while working closely with the insurance industry.

► What is ghost broking?

Western Isles addresses exploited in insurance con

6 July 2016