Classic Car Scam Nets £400,000 From Fake Theft Claims
A slick insurance scam ran for eight years, duping insurers out of hefty payouts on classic Ford Escort RS Turbos. From 2009 to 2017, a gang claimed £10,000 to £25,000 each time for 21 ‘stolen’ classic cars – but the vehicles had long been scrapped or sold off for scrap value.
How They Pulled Off the Fraud
The crooks used authentic high-value RS Turbos under their control, slapping on false number plates and doctored photos to fake mint condition. They backed up their claims with forged sales invoices and bogus MOT certificates to snag Agreed Value insurance policies at top rates.
Once insured, they waited months before filing bogus theft reports. This sneaky trick scored them tens of thousands per claim, racking up a fortune in stolen payouts.
Police Crack Down: 19 Convicted, Jail Sentences Handed Out
Suspicious activity triggered a police probe that uncovered the full scam. The Crown Prosecution Service hit 19 defendants with 42 charges of fraud and conspiracy.
Key culprits were locked up, including 52-year-old Jason Sallis from Blondvil Street, sentenced to 36 months for eight counts of fraud, and 35-year-old Amandeep Gill of Corbison Close, Warwick, who got 32 months for conspiracy to defraud.
