Crash for cash boss jailed for five years
THE head of an ‘empire’ that ran a large-scale ‘cashfor-crash’ scam involving hire cars and speeding fines has been jailed.
Jason Brown, 44, of Styal Road, Cheadle, was sentenced to five years and two months in prison after admitting perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to commit fraud at Manchester Crown Court.
He was one of 16 people sentenced, and two jailed, after an investigation by the police road crime unit.
It followed a complaint from a woman that her personal details had been falsely used to avoid fines from speed cameras.
This was confirmed by investigating officers who – with support from the Insurance Fraud Bureau, the industry’s central data body to detect fraud – uncovered another scam.
It involved a firm called Optimum Car Hire. The fraudsters submitted insurance claims associated with fictitious collisions and claims for hire charges for vehicles that were never actually hired.
On eight occasions the same car was ‘on hire’ to different people at the same time.
The scam was worth £225,000 and 35 false invoices were created. On one occasion no hire car was actually provided but an invoice for £45,000 was submitted to the insurance company.
One man allowed his details to be used fraudulently over 100 times.
Pc Vaughan SherrahDavies said: “The speed cameras are there for a reason, to uphold the law and road safety.
“This is a reminder to those that chose to continually speed and then provide false information on the notices that arise after a speed camera has been activated so that they can continue to drive.
“The Jason Brown empire came crashing down all because he provided false information on two speed camera forms.”
Ben Fletcher, director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, said: “Staged and contrived accidents alongside exaggerated claims with hugely inflated costs form part of the ‘crash for cash’ insurance fraud phenomenon which we estimate costs honest policyholders almost £400m each year.
“Today’s sentencing serves as a warning to other would-be fraudsters that if you are committing fraud then the risk of being caught and prosecuted is very real.
“Members of the public can play their role in fighting back against scams and insurance fraud by reporting what they know.”
‘The public can play their role in fighting back against scams’