Protection Against Auto Insurance Fraud

By being a staged auto accident victim. This happens when crooks intentionally cause an accident with your vehicle and make it seem as if you were at fault. The accident creates a way for the con artists to cheat an auto insurance company, or to defraud you in other ways.

Quite a few variations of these insurance scams exist, but you can reduce the odds you'll be a victim by taking the following steps.

Tips to Avoid Auto Insurance Fraud

It's tough to think clearly after an accident, so it's smart to keep an accident checklist in the glove compartment to guide you through the steps you should take, accompanied by a small notepad and writing tool to record the necessary information.

Beyond that, you should:

• Insist on calling the police, even after a minor accident. Fraudsters often damage their car further after the accident to inflate their claim. Having a police report stating the details of the accident can offer you some protection.

• Keep a disposable camera in the car, and take photos of the scene, as well as the other cars and people involved in the accident. Or, document the damage via a cell phone camera.

• Capture the names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, and auto insurance company names of everyone involved in the accident.

• Be leery of "helpful" people who immediately appear on the accident scene and advise you to use a particular towing company, doctor, attorney, or auto body shop. Believe it or not, each could be involved in the scam.

• Keep a safe distance from vehicles in front of you. Insurance fraudsters love tailgaters; following a car too closely can create an easy set-up for a staged auto accident.

• Avoid signing any blank claims forms.

• Contact your insurance carrier immediately after the accident, even if you feel you're not at fault.

Trust Your Instincts After an Auto Accident

Perhaps the most important aspect to remember is to trust your instincts. If a car cuts in front of you and then drives slowly, if a driver follows you much too closely, if a car suddenly appears by your side and drives erratically, escape from the situation as quickly as possible.

And, if an accident happens and something just seems amiss, be extra cautious about how you proceed at the scene and afterward.