Crash-for-Cash: the car scam that’s skyrocketing!

Fake accidents caused deliberately are multiplying, with increasingly aggressive and organized methods.

The scam known as Crash-for-Cash is experiencing an alarming resurgence. The principle is simple: deliberately provoke an accident, often at low speed, to obtain fraudulent compensation or to recover personal data.

The scenario is now well established. A two-wheeler suddenly appears in front of a car, unexpectedly brakes, or positions itself in a blind spot, causing a collision that is hard to avoid. Once the accident occurs, the fraudsters seek to destabilize the driver: psychological pressure, aggressive tone, insistence on immediate acknowledgment of responsibility. In some cases, they ask to photograph the driver’s license or other official documents.

Multiple Levels of Scam

This is where the scam takes on a new dimension. The fraudsters no longer settle for false accident declarations: the information collected is used to open fraudulent insurance policies or to feed other criminal networks.

Beyond individual harm, these practices have a collective impact. They lead to a general increase in insurance premiums and contribute to a feeling of insecurity on the road. These scams are also physically dangerous: deliberately provoking an accident exposes all road users to serious, even fatal, injuries.

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• 23/12/2025 10:26

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In the face of this threat, vigilance remains essential. Insurers recommend never handing over copies or photos of personal documents, systematically documenting the scene with photos or videos, and reporting any suspicious behavior to one’s insurer or the authorities. In a context where fraud is becoming more professionalized, staying informed becomes a true measure of protection.

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