Moped crash scams around Barry Road/Underhill/Goodrich

[malumbu]

A repeat of my views from earlier discussions, based on four people I know/know of who have had it happen to them - all women, but not all with young children which is often the MO.

This has also happened in Lewisham - I've tried to get Safer Neighbourhood Teams to coordinate (thanks to others on this Forum)

The insurance details and the name of the rider will be false.

It sounds like the same or similar people, most likely Brazillian due to the false names adopted.  May be one, or a gang.  Newish bikes, little obvious damage following the crash, snood covering face, mobile in hand recording.  If challenged, particularly if you have a witness, then the other party will say words to the effect that they don't speak English.

Please try to 999 straight away - report that someone has crashed into you on purpose, and you feel threatened (even more so if you have young kids with you).  If there are any bystanders, even if they are not witnesses, you may wish to ask them for support - noting that the scammers pick on quiet roads, quiet times of the day and the like

Also report as dangerous riding - the 999 call should be to report the scam and then on-line dangerous riding.

By law you only have to give your name, address and registration to the other party.  But I expect giving your number is less intimidating.  Do not give a copy of your license or your insurance.  By law you can actually report your details to the police rather than the other party

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/if-youre-in-an-accident

"You must report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you do not give your details at the time of the accident."  

If/when you get the calls coming in, and this could be fairly soon after, I'd not answer and but check the number.  You will find that it is one or more of those 'no win no fee' ambulance chasers with many reporting that they are supporting the scammer.  You will not hear from the insurers as they are using false details.

If and when you do pick up a call from one an ambulance chasers tell them you are only dealing with the other party's insurers, don't call again and you will block their number.

You may not wish to inform your insurer straight away.  Government advice (above) is that you "You must also report the accident to your insurance company, even if you’re not planning to make a claim."  But there is no timing on this.  Some insurers roll over and pay up which is what the scammer wants (or you to pay them off with cash yourself as you don't want to risk your NCB); some insurers seem to be more aware that this is a scam and will dig in.  

I am not a police officer, judge, solicitor, CPS, insurer, etc, this is just from knowledge where one or more of the scammers quickly gave up.  You should eventually get a letter from the police saying that the other party is untraceable/uninsured.  They probably wont take it any further.  Hopefully by this point you will hear no more from the other party, and there is therefore no basis for any personal injury claim against you.

I understand that this is a difficult and intimidating matter, it helps of course if you have witnesses and a friend or partner to handle the follow up hassle.

 

 

 

 

[Earl Aelfheah]

On 27/05/2024 at 18:20, vladi said:

in the UK only 4% of drivers are not insured

It’s estimated to be over 9% in SE London https://www.moneyexpert.com/news/east-london-highest-percentage-uninsured-cars-capital/#:~:text=According to research conducted by,on the roads is alarming.

[Rockets]

4 hours ago, malumbu said:

It sounds like the same or similar people, most likely Brazillian due to the false names adopted. 

What on earth? Why are you trying to pin this on Brazilians? I think you should remove that, unless you have definitive proof that every incident of this is being done by Brazilians. I am pretty sure you shouldn't be making those type of prejudiced stereotyping statements.

The rest of your note seems like pretty sound advice. 

[Sue]

11 hours ago, Rockets said:

What on earth? Why are you trying to pin this on Brazilians? I think you should remove that, unless you have definitive proof that every incident of this is being done by Brazilians. I am pretty sure you shouldn't be making those type of prejudiced stereotyping statements.

The rest of your note seems like pretty sound advice. 

I may have misremembered, but I thought I had recently read (via a link on here) a newspaper article about these faked "accidents" which said  that the recent arrests by police in London were related to a Brazilian gang?

Edited August 2 by Sue
Clarification

[malumbu]

The riders involved have be known to use Brazilian celebrities as their aliases.  They perhaps could be of Venezuelan, Chilean, Argentinian heritage or hail from other parts of the continent.  But it is most likely Brazil.

It's going well beyond Southwark, so it is a gang or gangs

The article on Nappy Valley reports many similar incidents, and a reference to Brazilian gangs, and the video is exactly as one reported to me with bystanders telling the rider to bugger off.

https://nappyvalleynet.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=132033

The article in Insurance Times also quotes Brazilian gangs

https://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/analysis/the-rising-prominence-of-moped-crash-for-cash-fraud/1453295.article

It is useful for potential victims and the authorities to know whether one particular community is heavily involved.  Most immigrants of course are law abiding and contribute to our economy and our diverse community.  

Article from Grauniad https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/22/uk-drivers-warned-to-watch-out-for-crash-for-cash-claims

And from parliament

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2024-0107/

"The insurance industry provides some estimates on the number of claims that are related to crash for cash. For example, the Insurance Fraud Bureau, a not-for-profit company that coordinates the industry response to insurance fraud, estimated that around 170,000 car insurance claims between October 2019 and the end of 2020 were linked to crash for cash fraud schemes.

It has also estimated that annually there are 69,500 personal injury claims linked to suspected crash for cash scams (PDF) (costing the insurance industry £392 billion a year), though no particular year is given for this information."

Disappointing therefore that there is a parallel industry of ambulance chasers and dodgy lawyers involved, that insurers may roll over and just pay and that grass roots policing is not always well joined up.

 

 

 

Edited August 2 by malumbu

[Soylent Green]

I have just found this thread and am going through a similar claim to the ones mentioned here. Fortunately, there were two witnesses who said they saw that I was stationary waiting for the bike (a Honda of less than 125cc with L plates) to pass.  Of course, he didn't pass. He just crashed into my bumper, jumped off his bike and started taking pictures.  I have had to have an online interview and agreed to go to court if necessary.  It will be interesting to see what happens. 

[malumbu]

Who is interviewing you?  The police or your insurers?  Is the rider providing a fake name, address and insurance details?  All the incidents that I am aware of, this is the case.

I forgot to add that you should report insurance fraud to the ABI as well: https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/fraud/

Although I'm not sure how effective the ABI are beyond gathering data/intelligence

Edited August 3 by malumbu

[Soylent Green]

I was interviewed by a representative of my insurer, who will also interview both witnesses.  I cannot report insurance fraud because I cannot prove it was a fraud.  I only claimed something similar happened to me, and I am leaving it in the hands of my insurers to sort out.

[Politically correct]

Looks like this might be happening again - moped over took my daughter who was at the junction of Goodrich and Barry Road this morning to then brake hard in front of her - she was almost stationary at the time but he claimed she hit him - will see what the camera footage shows 

very intimidating and demanded a photo of her driving licence which she gave

We are now having to call all the banks and a credit protection agencies

not saying it was a scam but we wait and see  - disgusting to intimidate young lone drivers  

[malumbu]

999 straight away, I'm being threatened....  Sorry to hear and not helpful me mentioning this after the event but the more people aware the better.  Taking photos of the license is their standard MO, he should have left a name and his home address by law.  Don't talk to any ambulance chasers and only to the other parties insurance, which will no doubt be fake.

[Huggers]

Film them immediately

with your own commentary 

plus all around bike and car

ask them to remove face coverings 

Ask for their licence 

suggest they are targeting lone women or women with kids

even if you go into the back of them, if they cut you up it is dangerous driving on their part which is a criminal offence 

 call cops

warn all female drivers you know of this scam so s they are prepared!

because of this thread I have become aware of mopeds circling, changing direction when they see me etc

 

Edited August 30 by Huggers

[Huggers]

In some cases moped lease companies and aggressive insurance company have been found to occupy the same premises 

[Sue]

On 29/08/2025 at 10:08, Politically correct said:

Looks like this might be happening again - moped over took my daughter who was at the junction of Goodrich and Barry Road this morning to then brake hard in front of her - she was almost stationary at the time but he claimed she hit him - will see what the camera footage shows 

very intimidating and demanded a photo of her driving licence which she gave

We are now having to call all the banks and a credit protection agencies

not saying it was a scam but we wait and see  - disgusting to intimidate young lone drivers  

Was the camera in the car?

[malumbu]

2 hours ago, Huggers said:

In some cases moped lease companies and aggressive insurance company have been found to occupy the same premises 

Unless anyone knows difference it is the "no win no fee" companies that get involved as the name and insurance of the rider are fake. 

Having said that the question is why the driver's insurers, should they get involved, not be able to check if the rider is using fake ID etc.

[Penguin68]

10 hours ago, malumbu said:

Having said that the question is why the driver's insurers, should they get involved, not be able to check if the rider is using fake ID etc.

Too much effort; it's cheaper for them to agree the claim and then recover their payouts through raising insurance charges, for everyone of course but particularly for their insured customer.

[malumbu]

They can and do challenge claims.  I expect the difference is where they have witnesses.

[Happyme5]

Probably true. Maybe we should all get dash cams.  I would be really scared if this happened to me.  

[Pugwash]

Reminder  that  this issue was discussed at the Dulwich Hill SNT several months ago and the police were asking people to contact them. As you say, several months have gone past without any known incidents.  Police should once again be notified.

Goodrich and Barry Roads come under Dulwich Hill SNT. The next meeting is Weds 10th September 6 pm at Christ Church Barry Road.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/oct/26/crash-for-cash-insurance-fraud-scam-moped-riders

 

Article on the moped scam in the paper today.

[malumbu]

Thanks, the Guardian reported on this in 2024.  The current article is a little underwhelming so I emailed the editor with  far more details.

[Huggers]

I believe I saw one looking for victims this morning!

he was in discussion with driver of a sports car in middle of Kinsale Road by the school. I waited and then pulled over so he continued into fenwicknroad. He was hovering and looking back at me so I pulled over again. I drove on and turned intO Nutbrook at which point he appeared again behind me. I pulled into a parking space. So did he. I got my phone out as if to take a pic and then he drove off. I wonder if the sport car was the boss giving instructions for the days mischief. 

Sorry too far to take a pic and I wasn’t ready for a confrontation 

[HeadNun]

Either that or you witnessed a drug deal