🔔 Beware of Insurance Claims Hijacking After a Road Traffic Collision 🔔

🔔 Beware of Insurance Claims Hijacking After a Road Traffic Collision 🔔

Devon & Cornwall Police are reminding motorists to take care when contacting their insurer following a road traffic collision.

Criminals and unscrupulous claims companies may advertise online in a way that makes them appear to be your insurer. If you search online for your insurer's claims number whilst at the roadside, particularly when stressed or distracted following a collision, you could accidentally contact a third-party company instead.

These companies may arrange:

You may even be asked to sign legal agreements which could leave you personally liable for significant costs if expenses cannot be recovered from another insurer.

🔒 Protect Yourself

✅ Save your insurer's claims number in your mobile phone before you need it.

✅ Use the number shown on your insurance certificate, policy documents, or insurer's official mobile app.

✅ Always look carefully at sponsored advertisements appearing at the top of internet search results.

✅ Before providing personal information, ask: "Can you confirm you are my insurer and not a third-party claims management company?"

✅ Never sign agreements you do not fully understand.

✅ If you have already agreed to vehicle recovery or a hire vehicle and later discover you were not speaking to your insurer, contact your insurer immediately for advice.

Crime or Civil Matter?
Not every dispute with a claims or accident management company is a criminal matter. If a company has clearly identified who they are and a disagreement later arises about costs or contract terms, this is likely to be a civil dispute. However, if someone deliberately misrepresents themselves as your insurer, deceives you into signing agreements, or dishonestly obtains money or personal information, this could amount to fraud and should be reported.

🌐 You can report online here: UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud 

📞 Or call: 0300 123 2040.

📞 If you have given out credit or debit card details to an unscrupulous claims company, immediately inform your card issuer.

📞 If you have given out any of your financial details, inform your bank by calling 159. 

Remember

If something does not feel right, stop, take your time, and verify who you are dealing with. Following a collision, fraudsters and claims-hijacking companies may exploit confusion and distress to persuade people into contracts they would not normally agree to.

Please share this advice to help protect family and friends across Devon and Cornwall.