Car insurance

Seriously scary: the ghost broker

On a dark and stormy night, a young driver gave up his long search for affordable car insurance and walked unhappily to the pub. As he was moaning about his troubles, a mysterious figure appeared.

"I can help you find insurance that will beat anything you've seen so far. In fact, I'll offer you a fixed price right now," said the stranger.

He drew out his phone and showed the young driver a shiny website that promised the cheapest car insurance he'd ever seen. The young driver was so desperate, he seized the chance and signed on the dotted line right then and there.

Three days later, he got his insurance certificate in the post and jumped for joy. Three months later, he was pulled over by the police and fined £300 for driving without valid insurance.

The young driver had fallen prey to that most hideous of ghouls: the ghost broker.

AND YOU COULD BE NEXT

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The ghost broker

Ghost brokers sell fake insurance policies or acquire policies fraudulently and then sell them on for a profit. There are three main car insurance scams aimed at young drivers, and a few ways you might be able to spot them.

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The scams

1. A fake policy

   This first scam involves completely fraudulent documents. You would be given a fake insurance policy document, which may look genuine but can easily be checked. Use askMID.com to look up whether your car is insured or not.

   If you find that you're not insured, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact the police.

   Do not drive your car.

2. A genuine policy...for now

   These lovely scammers will arrange real insurance for you with a genuine insurance company. However, not long after you've been given your policy document, they will cancel the policy. That means you'll be driving around uninsured - which is illegal.

   You are responsible for your insurance, so if you have any doubts at all, check you're insured with askMID.com. This scam would mean that at first you WOULD appear as insured, so check again later.

   An underwriter works out your premium for the insurance company you'll buy it from. ingenie's underwriters are Ageas, RSA and Covea.

   If you find that you're not insured, look up the underwriter on your policy document with the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and tell them what's happened.

   Then call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact the police on 111.

   Do not drive your car.

3. An invalid policy

   This is another genuine policy, except the ghost broker will have supplied the insurance company with false information. For example, they might have insured you at a different address or with the wrong age to make the premium lower.

   Although this is genuine insurance, the details are false. That means the policy was acquired fraudulently and is therefore not valid.

   Again, this is your responsibility as a motorist, so if anything looks weird about your policy document, CHECK. There is nothing to stop you contacting the insurer that issued the policy document to ask them about the certificate you've been given.

   If the insurance company confirms that the ghost brokers has provided them with false details, you will probably be put in touch with their underwriter. You can also look up their information with the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB). Then call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact the police on 111.

   Do not drive your car.

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The clues

1. 'Brokers' posting on student or money saving forums

   Forums and blogs are great places to share information and get tips on finding good deals. However, be wary of any company or financial adviser that gets involved in discussions.

   Many insurers advertise on student sites, but this will be in the form of a banner or sponsored listing - not a random post or personal message.

   

2. An offer that looks too good to be true

   Finding affordable insurance can be really hard for a young driver, so it's tempting to grab what seems to be the best deal going without looking into the details.

   If you find a policy that's way lower than anything you've seen in other places or has a guaranteed fixed rate, take the time to check the details and ask your parents to have a look too.

   It might look like it'll save you money but if you're taken in by a fraud, it'll cost you a lot more than you bargained for.

3. Borrowed trust

   Lots of insurance frauds involve well-known company branding. The ghost brokers act as if they're middlemen for big name insurers, borrowing their trustworthiness with stolen logos and pictures.

   Getting in touch with the insurer your new broker friend claims to deal with is easy. You can find them on the Financial Services Register or just contact their customer services team.

4. Unprofessional contact

   You should also keep an eye out for people using only mobile phones or email - would a real insurer do that?

   Ghost brokers have even been known to use IM services like Blackberry BBM and Snapchat to approach potential victims.

   Some scammers invest in legitimate-looking websites, but that shouldn't be enough to convince you.

   Run their name through the Financial Services Register before you make another move.

   

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What it could mean for you

In 2018, The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department found that 17 to 24-year-olds are most likely to fall victim to ghost broking. The total losses for these young drivers was reported to be a STAGGERING £164,993 - with each victim losing an average of £912.

But claiming that you didn't know won't be enough to let you off the hook. If you buy a fake policy, you'll be driving around uninsured. And that's illegal.

If you get caught driving a vehicle you’re not properly insured for, you could get a £300 fine and 6 points on your licence. If that wasn't bad enough - if you've passed your test within the last 2 years, 6 or more points would mean your licence gets automatically revoked.

You'd also have to pay for any damage you might have caused while driving uninsured AND you'll then have to buy real insurance on top of all that!

If the case goes to court, you could be left with:

• An unlimited fine
• A disqualification from driving
• The car being seized or destroyed - even if it doesn't belong to you

The moral of this ghost story? Be VERY afraid of car insurance scams.

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