Anybody can become a victim of a scam. Fraudsters are always on the look for new, unsuspecting victims. A recent modus operandi has revealed that they are far from running out of tricks. Crash for cash scams are becoming more frequent than they were a couple of years ago, and distracted drivers are more likely to fall for the scam. What can we do to avoid being a victim of a crash for cash scam?
First, understanding what exactly crash for cash scams mean and how they work is important. Then, being able to identify a possible scam situation will be helpful, too. We will also talk about the impact that crash for cash scams can have. We hope that, after reading this, fraudsters won’t be able to take advantage of you.
What Are Crash for Cash Scams?
To put it simply, a crash for cash scam consists of a staged car accident, with fraudsters working along with their passengers and possibly other drivers. When a fraudster identifies a victim, they will follow them for a while until the fraudster drives past the victim. Then, they suddenly hit the brakes, making distracted or unsuspecting drivers cause a rear-end collision.
With crash for cash scams, fraudsters look to get the highest compensation as possible. That is why they will overstate the repair expenses for their car and will also state they are more injured than they really are. Some scammers want to settle without involving the insurance companies in order to get cash. Some others will arrange the incident with your insurance company, to receive the repair payment personally.
How to Not Be A Victim of Crash for Cash Scams
Whenever we’re involved in a car crash, we have to pay attention to some behavior cues that can help us avoid crash for cash scams. The first clue we can pay attention to is the attitude of the driver. Usually, a person involved in a car crash will be in shock or upset about the incident. Also, fraudsters are usually not alone, so expect passengers to get off the vehicle. Another clue is that the drivers will have their insurance papers ready, their contact information, or will be urging you to contact yours.
Another alternative to avoid this type of scams is being as a careful and attentive driver as we can. Reducing the number of distractions when we are driving will help us remain alert, thus able to avoid hitting a car in the first place. However, scammers are experts on surprising drivers, so we also recommend a defensive driver course. This way we will be prepared to react accordingly to any unforeseen incident on the road.
What Is the Impact of Crash for Cash Scams?
The main impact of this type of scams is your health. Even when crash for cash scams tend to be small dents incidents, only, you can get still hurt your neck or your back. You can also suffer from stress during or after the incident, as you never saw it coming and were not prepared for it.
The other impact is on your insurance premiums. Since fraudsters will make it look like you were at fault, your insurance company might consider you at a higher risk level. This will make your premiums to go up, and the deductible for the accident might be higher too. This is why we must remain focused on the road at all times. Limit the number of distractions when we are driving will make us less likely to fall for a scam.
