Eight people from Caerphilly County Borough have been arrested on suspicion of motor insurance fraud as part of an operation by Gwent Police, South Wales and the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).
Those arrested are suspected of carrying out a ‘cash for crash’ insurance scam – where bogus car crashes are invented and claimed for.
Details of the arrests are as follows:
- A 29-year-old man from the New Tredegar area
- A 28-year-old woman from the New Tredegar area
- A 49-year-old man from the Blackwood area
- A 28-year-old man from the Blackwood area
- A 34-year-old man from the Caerphilly area
- A 36-year-old woman from the Caerphilly area
- A 39-year-old man from the Cefn Fforest area
- A 29-year-old man from the Cefn Fforest area
In addition to the eight, a 32-year-old man from the Pontypridd area was also arrested as part of Operation Dino.
All nine were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to defraud the insurance industry, and all nine have been bailed pending further enquiries.
During searches of the properties documentary evidence was recovered along with live ammunition from one address. There was also a cash seizure made under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the South Wales Police area.
Detective Inspector Jeremy Rogers, who is the Operation Dino lead, said: “Gangs involved in insurance scams put law abiding road users at risk of serious injury or worse.
“These kinds of scams also cost the insurance industry millions of pounds and much of this money ends up being paid by innocent motorists through increased insurance premiums.
“Operation Dino will continue to target this type of organised criminality, and if anyone has any information about scams of this nature I would urge them to ring 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111, or the IFB’s free and confidential ‘Cheatline’.”
Phil Bird, Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), said: “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. As honest policyholders, we all pick up the bill for fraudsters through increased premiums.
“The IFB is working alongside insurers and police forces up and down the country to investigate and convict criminal gangs orchestrating motor insurance scams. Arrests made by Gwent Police is testament to this ongoing work and is part of 26 live IFB operations across the UK, valued in excess of £60 million. Convicted fraudsters face the prospect of heavy fines, a criminal record and jail sentences.
“Members of the public can support the crackdown on insurance fraudsters by contacting the IFB’s free and confidential Cheatline on 0800 422 0421, or report online at www.insurancefraudbureau.org/report.”