Motorists in Uxbridge and the surrounding areas are being urged to stay vigilant in the face of a rising number of ‘Clip for Cash’ scams, which have already cost thousands of pounds. In these scams, fraudsters typically target drivers on residential streets, accusing them of clipping the scammers’ wing mirror, before using threatening behaviour to demand immediate cash payments.
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Unlike traditional ‘crash for cash’ scams, where fraudsters deliberately cause a collision by slamming on their brakes, the ‘Clip for Cash’ scam involves a more covert approach. Recently, approximately 12 motorists in the UB postcode area, covering locations such as Greenford, Haynes, Pinner, and Southall, have fallen victim to these scams. Similar incidents have also been reported across other parts of London, South-West England, and Wales.
The scam typically unfolds when the victim drives slowly past a parked vehicle. The fraudster, positioned in the car, throws an object such as a rock at the victim’s vehicle to create an impact sound. The startled driver is then flashed by the scammer’s car and prompted to stop, at which point they are falsely accused of damaging the wing mirror. The fraudster demands an immediate cash settlement, often as much as £500, or pressures the victim to withdraw money from a nearby cashpoint. Some perpetrators even resort to physical intimidation if the victim refuses to comply.
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Nicola Smith, Intelligence and Investigations Manager at the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), expressed concern about the rise in these scams in the Uxbridge area. She said, “We are seeing a worrying increase in reports of clip for cash scams in the Uxbridge area. These fraudsters trick innocent motorists into thinking they’ve caused genuine damage to get victims to hand over cash. This scam is an increasing threat to local drivers, and with offenders escalating to threatening behaviour, it can be scary for victims. We’re urging everyone to look out for the warning signs of these scams and stay safe.”
