The man behind one of the UK's largest 'crash for cash' scams has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison.
The scam was uncovered by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB). Fraudulent claims totalling over £6.5 million were submitted by Masi Naqshbandi who staged hundreds of road traffic accidents. Naqshbandi's accomplice Sabaoon Hillaman was sentenced to four years and ten months at Croydon Crown Court.
Naqshbandi and Hillaman ran a London-based accident management company, Real Accident Helpline. Through the company the pair submitted fraudulent insurance claims between 2007 and 2008. In some cases vehicles were deliberately crashed or damaged to simulate accident damage. Other cases involved entirely fictitious accidents using false names and paperwork.
People from the local community were recruited to take part in the scam. Cars were donated to be damaged and used in the claims process.
The fraud came to light when Aviva notified the IFB after receiving a series of near identical claims from Real Accident Helpline. A member of the public also alerted the IFB to serious fraud using its confidential Cheatline service.
Fraud analysts at the IFB were able to link Real Accident Helpline to over 250 claims worth in excess of £6.5 million. In summer 2008 the Metropolitan Police Service's Traffic Command Unit (Operation Catcher) arrested Naqshbandi and Hillaman in a series of dawn raids. Evidence seized in the raids and subsequent enquiries by the Police, IFB and 20 insurers saw the pair charged with conspiracy to defraud.
Phil Bird, Director of the IFB commented on the sentence: "This unprecedented sentence sends a clear message to fraudsters - the insurance industry is fighting back and fraudsters will be caught and prosecuted no matter how big or complex their scam may be".
The Detective Inspector leading Operation Catcher said: "I hope that today's lengthy custodial sentences send a clear message to anyone involved in insurance fraud that the police will actively investigate them and where appropriate place them before the courts."
John Lambert - 8 Aug 2012