alastair walker
Four men involved in a ruthless “crash-for-cash” fraud scheme targeting an elderly driver were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after a successful contempt application by Keoghs and Aviva. The men were found guilty of staging a car accident and repeatedly lying to secure fraudulent insurance claims.
The scam, which took place in 2020, saw the four men orchestrate a collision with an elderly motorist in a parking lot. Using a combination of false statements and fabricated evidence, the fraudsters tried to defraud the victim and insurance company. Keoghs, having handled previous similar claims, used their experience to help uncover the fraudulent scheme, leading to a trial at Manchester County Court.
The accused men – Mohammed Altaf (24 weeks), Muhammed Pervaiz (18 weeks), Muhammad Zaheer (8 weeks), and Mohammed Yaqub (6 weeks) – were sentenced to a total of 56 weeks in prison. They were all found guilty of conspiring to stage the accident and provide false evidence in court.
Commenting on the outcome, Danny Newton, Partner at Keoghs, emphasized that this verdict was a victory not only for Aviva but also for innocent elderly drivers targeted by such fraudulent schemes. He added, “Exposing and punishing these scams will help reduce the costs incurred by dishonest claims, which are ultimately paid by everyone.”
Pete Ward, Head of Claims Counter Fraud at Aviva, also commented on the severity of the case, saying, “These crash-for-cash schemes continue to target vulnerable motorists, and this case shows just how heartless these criminals can be. Their actions were not only deceitful but also cruel.”
In a rare move, Aviva and Keoghs applied for contempt charges against the fraudsters due to the extent of their deception. At the hearing, three of the four remaining defendants were found in contempt, with Judge HHJ Khan noting that their evidence was inconsistent and evasive.
The sentencing comes as part of Operation Sentinel, an initiative aimed at tackling serious fraud and organized crime in the North East. The case serves as a stark reminder of the impact such crimes can have on vulnerable members of society.
