A slick conman who duped women from dating sites into staged car accidents has been locked up for 20 months after a Bournemouth court nailed him.
Manipulative Nathan Atkins Ran Fake Crash Scam
Nathan Atkins, 46, from Ferndown, Dorset, masterminded a string of bogus crashes between June 2020 and October 2022. Using fake names like Philip Realon and Tony Richards, Atkins covered his tracks while targeting vulnerable women to help with the scam. Police described him as “predatory in his approach.”
Sixteen Fraudulent Claims Exposed
The women, groomed through personal chats, were coached to follow scripts and smash vehicles Atkins bought at auctions. The crashes were then claimed on insurance to rake in cash. The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) and Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) uncovered 16 dodgy claims linked to Atkins.
Detective Constable Carley Parodi said: “Atkins preyed on vulnerable women, using them as pawns in a dangerous scheme that could easily have ended in tragedy. It’s a miracle no one was seriously injured.”
One chilling case involved a woman seven months pregnant.
No Winners, Just Lies and Danger
None of the women made money from the fraud and each received a police caution after admitting their role. Atkins refused to answer investigators in 2022 but later pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud by false representation. He’s now facing a £6,000 compensation order.
Nicola Smith from the IFB warned: “This case highlights a disturbing trend of criminals exploiting online dating for fraud. Users should stay alert and report suspicious behaviour to Action Fraud.”
