Drivers warn of Shropshire car crash scam

"Crash for cash" scams can involve induced accidents, where fraudsters deliberately target innocent motorists to claim whiplash compensation, as well as staged accidents, when two damaged cars are brought together to make it look like an accident.

Chloe Long believes she may have been a victim of the scandal when she was involved in a crash at a roundabout on the A5223 in Horsehay last Saturday.

The 18-year-old, from Madeley, said she had been driving her VW Polo behind a Mini Cooper when the driver suddenly braked and she crashed into the back of the vehicle.

She said: "Following the incident, I was led to a quieter area a little bit away from the accident where two men emerged from the vehicle.

"They were in their early 20s. At this point the driver hugged me and then I asked him not to.

"The men had asked if they could drive my car further down the lane to which I said it was fine where it was.

"Following this, they got paper to exchange details and asked if I had a pen as they did not.

"I wrote my information down, however they suddenly had their details to hand, despite saying they had no pen and I did not see them write them down."

She said one of the men also asked her if she wanted him to hold her phone and keys and offered her a seat in the Mini, which she refused.

Miss Long said her car suffered substantial front-end damage, while the damage to the Mini was minor.

She said she reported the incident to police and her insurance company was now investigating the matter to identify any potential fraud.

Miss Long, who also suffered whiplash and a shoulder injury, added: "I was scared and alone, and if it wasn't for me getting a hold of my mum to come to the scene anything could have happened to me.

"I believe this was a crash for cash scandal. I want others to be aware, especially driving alone, that this can happen."

Aimee George, of Madeley, also believes she may have been a victim of a "crash for cash" scam following a crash at the roundabout next to the Cuckoo Oak pub in Madeley.

The 20-year-old, who was driving a Renault Clio, claims she collided with a VW Golf after the driver braked sharply.

She said: "I followed the car and they stopped at the back of the pub.

"There were two men in the car. They asked for my insurance details and I asked for theirs.

"It seemed really suspicious because they asked me for my phone to put their insurance details on it. I said no and phoned my dad and they got really anxious. They abandoned their car and got in another car which drove away."

She said the crash on March 26 caused damage to her bumper and bonnet and minor damage to the VW Golf.

West Mercia Police was unavailable for comment.

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