An uphill struggle

The insurance industry and police have recently joined forces in an initiative designed to quash fraudulent activity, however it continues to rise, particularly in the motor arena. Liz Booth uncovers some typical attempts to defraud

Recession is said to fuel fraudulent insurance claims as people struggle to pay their bills or afford new items.

The motor arena is no exception. Insurers are reporting an increased number of suspect claims, including exaggerations of genuine incidents (the opportunists) as well as a growth in the number of 'stolen' vehicles. Often these are recovered later, burnt out. Further investigation then reveals the owner owes money on hire purchase deals and had been hoping the insurance claim would