0:00:02 > 0:00:05Insurance fraud in the UK has hit epidemic levels.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08It's costing us around £2 billion every year.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11That's almost £6 million a day.
0:00:13 > 0:00:19Deliberate crashes, bogus personal injuries, even phantom pets.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22The fraudsters are risking more and more to make a quick killing
0:00:22 > 0:00:27and every year, it's adding over £50 to your insurance bill.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29But insurers are fighting back,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33exposing around 14 fake claims every hour.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Armed with covert surveillance systems...
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Subject out the vehicle.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42..sophisticated data analysis techniques...
0:00:42 > 0:00:45..and a number of highly skilled police units...
0:00:45 > 0:00:46Police, stay where you are!
0:00:46 > 0:00:49..they're catching the criminals red-handed.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Just don't lie to us.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54All those con men, scammers and cheats on the fiddle
0:00:54 > 0:00:58are now caught in the act and Claimed And Shamed.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Coming up:
0:01:08 > 0:01:11A convicted drug dealer thinks a bump on the head will give him
0:01:11 > 0:01:13a bumper pay-out.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Mr Foster claimed that he had fallen from his top bunk
0:01:15 > 0:01:18during the night and that he'd been knocked unconscious,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20suffering a severe head injury.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Thames Valley Police continue to clamp down hard on suspected
0:01:24 > 0:01:26crash-for-cash gangs.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Hello, it's the police.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And after feeling under par,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34a golf professional tees himself up for a double bogey.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37The insurance company grew suspicious because they
0:01:37 > 0:01:41received information that Mr Turner had been working at a golf club.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Some criminals just don't know when to stop.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56And you'd think being locked up would be enough of a deterrent,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59but for some, time inside just seems like an excuse to
0:01:59 > 0:02:02steal from hard-working taxpayers.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Too many prisoners now see bogus personal injury
0:02:05 > 0:02:07claims as a nice little earner.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11The kind of people who put in false claims while in prison
0:02:11 > 0:02:15are the kind of people who don't realise the implications of doing so,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19both cost and to their own freedom.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24At Her Majesty's Prison Manchester, the litigation team can sometimes
0:02:24 > 0:02:27be processing as many as 120 claims at any one time.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31These claims can be all sorts of trips, slips and falls, but one
0:02:31 > 0:02:35of the most common is for injuries sustained from falling out of bed.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38There are a number of prisoners claiming to have fallen from the top
0:02:38 > 0:02:41bunk at Manchester. It's quite a hot topic.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The injuries vary from case to case.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Some claim to have banged their elbows,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48some claim to have bruised their side,
0:02:48 > 0:02:53some have suffered head injuries, front, back, facial injuries.
0:02:54 > 0:02:5822-year-old inmate Calum Foster was awaiting trial
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but soon appeared to find himself the victim of an unfortunate
0:03:01 > 0:03:04accident while asleep in his cell.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Mr Foster claimed that he had fallen from his top bunk
0:03:06 > 0:03:09during the night and that he had been knocked unconscious,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11suffering a severe head injury.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Two months later, whilst still inside,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Foster was reading a newspaper in his cell
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and spotted an injury claim solicitor's advert and suddenly saw
0:03:20 > 0:03:25an opportunity to write himself what he imagined would be a blank cheque.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30After contacting his new solicitors, a claim soon arrived at the prison.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Initially, it was the solicitor's letter that raised our suspicions.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36They claimed that he had fallen out of his bed at nine o'clock
0:03:36 > 0:03:40that morning, when we knew, looking from the records, that he
0:03:40 > 0:03:44was due to attend a review for his behaviour at 10am that morning.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Alarm bells started to ring for the prison's litigation team
0:03:47 > 0:03:51and a thorough investigation of the incident was launched.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Once we started to investigate the matter more thoroughly,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00we actually discovered that Mr Foster was involved in an altercation
0:04:00 > 0:04:02on the yard that afternoon.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06He'd become extremely abusive towards staff, verbally abusive
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and physically abusive and he had to be restrained.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13After any such restraint, prisoners automatically are referred
0:04:13 > 0:04:16to medical staff and thoroughly checked over.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20After the incident, he was seen by a nurse who noted that he'd
0:04:20 > 0:04:23received a small raised bump to the front of his head.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Foster realised there was an opportunity to exploit
0:04:27 > 0:04:30his earlier injury and came up with a clever plan
0:04:30 > 0:04:32to claim for a fall in his cell.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35At least it would have been clever had Foster not
0:04:35 > 0:04:37forgotten that is bump on the head had already been
0:04:37 > 0:04:40noted in the medical records a few hours before.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42The records showed that later that evening,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Mr Foster had in fact pressed his cell bell and raised the alarm
0:04:46 > 0:04:49that he'd fallen from his top bunk.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Medical attention was sought for him
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and a medical officer attended his cell.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57It was noted that he did have a slight bump to the front of his head.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Foster's ridiculous lies were unravelling fast
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and when interviewed by local police, he answered, "No comment,"
0:05:03 > 0:05:05to all questions.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06In a ground-breaking case,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Foster became only the second ever inmate in the country to be
0:05:09 > 0:05:13charged with fraud offences committed from the inside.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Once again, he was heading for the dock at Manchester Crown Court.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21Mr Foster never actually admitted to his attempt on fraud.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22It was taken to trial
0:05:22 > 0:05:27and he received nine months on top of his original sentence.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30In court, a jury found Foster guilty
0:05:30 > 0:05:33and the judge was damning in his verdict.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34He told Foster:
0:05:46 > 0:05:48I don't think this was a well-thought-out claim at all.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52The fact that he was claiming for an injury that he'd already
0:05:52 > 0:05:55sustained earlier in the same day and the record was there,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58he did receive medical treatment for that injury, which he
0:05:58 > 0:06:00knew of, makes it not a sophisticated attempt at all.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Foster was looking for a bumper payday, knowing that substantial
0:06:06 > 0:06:09compensation had already been paid to prisoners, but his plan
0:06:09 > 0:06:11backfired and, instead,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14he was landed with an extra nine months inside.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16The best thing about this job is successfully
0:06:16 > 0:06:20defending against fraudulent claims, getting a brilliant outcome,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23saving the taxpayer the money.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26It was a really good feeling that we could get this guy prosecuted.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Still to come, the Asset Protection Unit
0:06:34 > 0:06:37play cat and mouse with an evasive customer whose borrowed car
0:06:37 > 0:06:40has crossed the point of no return.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42If I think that there is a danger that vehicle might be stolen,
0:06:42 > 0:06:46I will authorise a snatch-back, which is two of my staff
0:06:46 > 0:06:49going to physically go and get the car back.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52And an insider trader on the fiddle gets an unexpected
0:06:52 > 0:06:54visit from the IFED team.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57It wasn't long before Mr Clegg received the famous
0:06:57 > 0:07:01knock on the door from IFED and his skulduggery was uncovered.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Crash-for-cash is becoming a major policing issue.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Currently, UK police forces are investigating 110
0:07:14 > 0:07:16of these scams, across the country.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Reports claim that one in seven personal injury
0:07:21 > 0:07:24claims are linked to deliberate crashes.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27These crashes are designed to milk insurance companies of up to
0:07:27 > 0:07:30£30,000 per crash.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32It's big money and it's a serious danger to the public.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Britain's police forces are determined to put the brakes
0:07:38 > 0:07:42on this type of crime, and Thames Valley Police is no exception.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Police! Open the door now, last chance!
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Detective Inspector Louise Roddy, from Force CID, has a team
0:07:49 > 0:07:53of 25 officers dealing with crimes from murder to blackmail and fraud.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56We work closely with the Insurance Fraud Bureau
0:07:56 > 0:07:59and the Crown Prosecution Service to make sure that we have got
0:07:59 > 0:08:01a watertight case to present at court.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Second person in here.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07But it's not just costing the insurers thousands.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09These criminals are putting innocent lives at risk.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12People are getting seriously hurt.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Unsuspecting members of the public are driving on busy roads and they'll
0:08:16 > 0:08:19be involved in these accidents because they are targeted by
0:08:19 > 0:08:22such an organised group, and that's why we're involved
0:08:22 > 0:08:23in the investigation.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It's early morning at HQ.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34After months of hard work, today is the start of an operation
0:08:34 > 0:08:37designed to smash another suspected crash-for-cash gang
0:08:37 > 0:08:39believed to be working in the area.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42We want to send out a really clear message from Thames Valley Police
0:08:42 > 0:08:45that these offences will be dealt with robustly,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48that offenders will be arrested, and, at any opportunity,
0:08:48 > 0:08:49we'll prosecute them.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Helping to take the fight to the suspected scammers
0:08:52 > 0:08:54is Detective Sergeant Tony Maddison,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56who quickly brings the officers up to speed.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Please expect the unexpected.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00We don't know what exactly we're going to find.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03What I will say is that, other than our objective,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06our main arrest, which is highlighted in the arrest packs,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09there could potentially be other offences disclosed.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14The coppers begin to head out, ready to hit the suspected
0:09:14 > 0:09:17fraudsters right where it hurts.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20With five separate warrants served across multiple raids,
0:09:20 > 0:09:24the Rapid Entry Team are called in to assist at every single address.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- Police officers. Open up! - ..at the address.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Police!
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- Open your door, please!- Clear.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44You're under arrest on suspicion of fraud.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Three suspects have already been arrested
0:09:46 > 0:09:49and taken away for further questioning.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Evidence has been seized at various premises during four multiple
0:09:52 > 0:09:54raids so far.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57With just one address left to target, the team are hopeful that
0:09:57 > 0:10:00another suspected fraudster is about to be brought to
0:10:00 > 0:10:01book by the police.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Sergeant Alex Clough is leading the raiding party into action.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09We're off to conduct a warrant
0:10:09 > 0:10:15and hopefully arrest for fraud offences, dangerous driving.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20The intelligence we have got is that we're going to go and arrest a male.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24That's the only male that we expect to find at the address.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The offences being committed, we're looking for documents,
0:10:27 > 0:10:35insurance documents, passports, identification, mobile phones.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40The warrant is going to be conducted as a door knock,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44but if no-one answers, we have the powers to force entry.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47Once again, the team
0:10:47 > 0:10:51are assisted by rapid entry officers wearing protective clothing.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Their job is to gain entry to the building as quickly
0:10:54 > 0:10:58and safely as possible, ensuring that suspects have no time
0:10:58 > 0:11:02to dispose of incriminating evidence.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Hiya. It's the police. All right to come in?
0:11:05 > 0:11:07We've got a warrant to search this property.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09But not every door knock yields a result.
0:11:09 > 0:11:16Hello, it's the police. Hello? Police. Is anyone here?
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Hello, it's the police. Are you all right?
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Officers check round the back just in case.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Who else is in the address? Who else is in here?
0:11:30 > 0:11:33After looking over the premises for further occupants,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37the officer runs a check to verify the identity of the male tenant.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40We suspect there is a person living at this address that has
0:11:40 > 0:11:46committed offences. Not you, but we still need to search the property.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49We'll need to search the whole property in relation to the
0:11:49 > 0:11:55offences of fraud, conspiracy to destroy debt or damage property
0:11:55 > 0:11:57and also dangerous driving.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05A thorough search is carried out across the house.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Detailed checks are made in bags, boxes,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12drawers and cupboards in every room, making sure that no mattress
0:12:12 > 0:12:14is left unturned in the hunt for evidence.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Getting letters like that, an address just down the road.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24That's the suspect linked with these guys.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Has that got anything that could link them?
0:12:27 > 0:12:30We've just found some sort of various letters regarding
0:12:30 > 0:12:35financial arrangements relating to, either the landlord of this property
0:12:35 > 0:12:39or the younger male occupant, but at a different address.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44It may be that there's a group of addresses in the area where
0:12:44 > 0:12:47people are moving around, so it could be relevant.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50As the search for evidence continues,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53the boys in blue check further documentation,
0:12:53 > 0:12:57to try and confirm the details of all the occupants at the premises.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01We've detained three persons, done some checks on them
0:13:01 > 0:13:03and we're confident that they are not connected
0:13:03 > 0:13:08to the person that we were after originally.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11We've some valuable intelligence, but, unfortunately,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13not the suspect that we were after.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14This morning's search is over,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18but contacting the owner of the property may yield further clues.
0:13:18 > 0:13:19That's us done.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22We've got some details of the landlord which we're going
0:13:22 > 0:13:26to progress with to find out whether or not our suspect lived here,
0:13:26 > 0:13:30and perhaps a forwarding address to where they've gone to.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34Whilst this team didn't get to arrest their man...
0:13:34 > 0:13:37the wider case remains under investigation and the police's
0:13:37 > 0:13:41commitment to reduce crash-for-cash crime in the area continues.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50In times of financial hardship, as the bills start piling up,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53people begin to worry about keeping a roof over their heads.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Thankfully, for a relatively low sum each month, income protection
0:13:57 > 0:13:59insurance is there to cover up to 70%
0:13:59 > 0:14:01of earnings should you fall ill.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Especially useful if your job is more like a hobby
0:14:04 > 0:14:06but relies on you being fit and well.
0:14:07 > 0:14:1052-year-old professional Laurie Turner
0:14:10 > 0:14:13was one of the lucky few that got to ply his trade
0:14:13 > 0:14:15on the greens and fairways of Yorkshire,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18whilst helping local golfers improve their game.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Unfortunately for Mr Turner, a debilitating knee problem
0:14:21 > 0:14:24threatened to put paid to his ideal vocation,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and saw his golf career heading straight for the bunker.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29The claim was that he was
0:14:29 > 0:14:35unable to work, which involved teaching golf
0:14:35 > 0:14:39and also playing golf on the pro circuit.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Luck was on his side. Turner had done the sensible thing
0:14:44 > 0:14:47and already had income protection insurance.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51Very soon after notifying insurers of his injury, he started to receive
0:14:51 > 0:14:54monthly compensation payments.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56The insurance company grew suspicious
0:14:56 > 0:14:58because they received information that Mr Turner had been
0:14:58 > 0:15:03working at a golf club and giving lessons to members of the public.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07The insurance company called in a private investigator,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11who promptly dusted down his clubs, picked up the phone
0:15:11 > 0:15:14and booked himself in for an actual lesson with Mr Turner.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Despite the fact that Laurie Turner had a knee injury,
0:15:17 > 0:15:23you can see that he's able to stand, swing a golf club
0:15:23 > 0:15:26and it shows him receiving money at the end of the lesson.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29With the lesson ended and his golf swing vastly improved,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32the investigator passed the conclusive evidence
0:15:32 > 0:15:36directly to IFED, the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department
0:15:36 > 0:15:38at the City of London Police.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41It was found that Laurie Turner was playing golf on the
0:15:41 > 0:15:46Professional Golf Association Northern and Yorkshire Tours
0:15:46 > 0:15:50and receiving money for entering and playing in tournaments
0:15:50 > 0:15:53when also claiming on his insurance policy.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57With the weight of the evidence stacking up against him,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Turner was well and truly in the rough.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04IFED arrested Laurie Turner at a golf shop he was working at,
0:16:04 > 0:16:11and he was prosecuted and charged with fraud by false representation.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Pleading guilty at Leeds Magistrates Court, he was ordered to carry out
0:16:14 > 0:16:19140 hours of unpaid work and to repay over £8,000
0:16:19 > 0:16:22that he had fraudulently claimed.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25This type of insurance policy, income protection,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28is really important for people if they should fall ill
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and be unable to work, if they can't pay their mortgage.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Unfortunately, Laurie Turner abused this policy by continuing to
0:16:35 > 0:16:40work and play golf and give golf lessons whilst receiving
0:16:40 > 0:16:42money from the insurance company.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51As any unlucky driver knows,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54being left without a car after an unfortunate smash,
0:16:54 > 0:16:59can leave you stuck indoors with the kids or unable to get to work.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Thanks to legislation for insurance policy holders,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06a complimentary hire car is a real silver lining.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08The main business of Accident Exchange is to provide hire
0:17:08 > 0:17:12vehicles for people involved in non-fault accidents.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14If you're involved in an accident that is not your fault,
0:17:14 > 0:17:19Accident Exchange can provide you with a like-for-like replacement car.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Unfortunately, what's great news for motorists can also be
0:17:22 > 0:17:26good news for fraudsters on the lookout for a free ride.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Within Accident Exchange, the Asset Protection Unit, or APU, help
0:17:30 > 0:17:32keep a watchful eye on the fleet.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36We have about 3,000 vehicles, mainly prestige vehicles,
0:17:36 > 0:17:40and APU's main role is protecting those assets.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Once the client's vehicle is repaired and sent back,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47they must return the replacement hire vehicle to the legal owners.
0:17:47 > 0:17:5299% of customers give the vehicle back and there is no problem.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56There's just the 1% where we need to take significant action.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00When a customer fails to return the car and starts ignoring calls,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02Neil is on placed on red alert.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05If they continue to drive, they'll be breaking
0:18:05 > 0:18:07the law, as the insurance is now invalid.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10There's an increased chance the vehicle may go missing or be
0:18:10 > 0:18:12passed to a third party.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15If I think that there is a danger that vehicle might be stolen,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19then I will authorise a snatch-back, which is two of my staff
0:18:19 > 0:18:22go in to physically go and get the car back.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Snatch-backs are when the car's legal owners use a spare key to
0:18:25 > 0:18:28take the vehicle back directly from its location.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Used as a last resort, this type of operation always carries
0:18:31 > 0:18:33an element of risk.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36It's 6am.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38It's been a very early start for APU's Matt Sperryn
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and his colleague Erin Sims, who set off from HQ
0:18:41 > 0:18:44at 3 o'clock this morning.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46They're making their way to the family home of a client,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49who hasn't returned a vehicle to Accident Exchange.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52The hire company who have let the vehicle out,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55they've been trying to communicate with these people for quite
0:18:55 > 0:18:58some time to get the vehicle back.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Their period of hire has ended but now they've got to the
0:19:02 > 0:19:06point where they can't communicate with clients.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09They've been trying to call them, there's no answers,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12they won't reply to voice mails, e-mails, letters, texts
0:19:12 > 0:19:13or whatever else has been sent to them.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16So the only option that has been left to them
0:19:16 > 0:19:18to protect their assets, is to recover the vehicle.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21They've given us the basic details where these people are,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23we've done some background checks
0:19:23 > 0:19:26and it's felt that the safest and easiest and best way to
0:19:26 > 0:19:30resolve the situation is to get the vehicle back in a covert manner,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32hence the reason that we've got the spare keys.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36We can use technology within the vehicle to see where it's
0:19:36 > 0:19:41parking overnight, to see what sort of time it's started to be moved
0:19:41 > 0:19:42in the morning.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Should they be true to form, the vehicle should be parked there now,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49when we get there. Hopefully it won't be in a gated property
0:19:49 > 0:19:52and we'll be able to just get in it and scoot away.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56As well as the all-important spare key,
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Matt has some clever tracker technology at his disposal.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Using a smartphone app, he pinpoints the vehicle's exact location.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10It's only a very small side street, so...
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Matt doesn't know what to expect when he attempts to snatch
0:20:15 > 0:20:18the car back from the client's drive.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Yes, it's this right, here, just behind this van.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25With an eyeball on the vehicle,
0:20:25 > 0:20:30it's important they position themselves for a quick getaway.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Go in there, turn round and you can just sit in the entrance here,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35ready to go and you can see down there.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36I can see the vehicle there.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42You'll be able to see me get into it. There.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Matt's finally located the car, and snatch-back is go, go, go.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53The vehicle is parked up this side street opposite us now.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55It seems fairly open, it's not gated.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58We may have to reverse so I don't think we're going to get time
0:20:58 > 0:21:01to do a three-point turn, so we're just going to get in there,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04get in as quick as we can and get on the main road and get away.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14Time is of the essence.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Now he's in, the last thing he wants to do is stall it!
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Matt has to be careful not to wake the client,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25who's sleeping like a baby.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28He has to be quick, and discreet.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Snatch-back complete!
0:21:35 > 0:21:36Successful recovery.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38It's always difficult when we're getting vehicles
0:21:38 > 0:21:42back from a side road, side street, you've got to manoeuvre something
0:21:42 > 0:21:43out, and this is quite a big vehicle,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45so managed to get out there. No damage.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51This is probably, what? £30,000 worth of someone's hard-earned money
0:21:51 > 0:21:54and if it was 30 grand in cash in a bag,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56we'll all be jumping up and down trying to get it back.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58It's the same principle for me, to be honest.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01They might not care about it, it might not be their vehicle,
0:22:01 > 0:22:02but it is someone's vehicle.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05It's the livelihood of the business who owned the vehicle
0:22:05 > 0:22:09and it's in everybody's best interest to get it back unscathed.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12One of the common hazards of the job is being pulled
0:22:12 > 0:22:15over by the boys in blue for suspected car theft.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Once he's a safe distance from the location of the recovered
0:22:18 > 0:22:21vehicle, Matt contacts the police in case the clients report
0:22:21 > 0:22:23the vehicle as stolen.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28It's just to let you know that we do now have possession of that vehicle.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31If somebody does ring up enquiring about it, if they could be directed
0:22:31 > 0:22:35to ring the main office number, that would be fantastic, thank you.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Matt gives the car a once-over...
0:22:42 > 0:22:45..noting the vehicle's condition and making a photographic record
0:22:45 > 0:22:47of the contents.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56The car itself is in a complete state.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59There are sweet wrappers everywhere, drinks bottles, crisps.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03It obviously hasn't been cleaned inside or out.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06There is a lot of property in the boot,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09which tends to suggest two things.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12One, that they weren't bothered about the vehicle, it's not theirs,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15they don't want to treat it like it was their own, and that generally
0:23:15 > 0:23:19they didn't have any intention of handing the vehicle back.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Unfortunately for Accident Exchange, the costs are still rising.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Despite recovering their valuable asset, the car needs petrol to
0:23:27 > 0:23:30get to HQ, and they'll still have to pay to return the car's
0:23:30 > 0:23:32contents to the client.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34I think they feel it's a victimless crime.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37They look upon hire companies or credit hire or whoever
0:23:37 > 0:23:40they've had the vehicle from and they'll look at the business,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43especially if it's a large national company or international company,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46and they'll say, "Well, they've got hundreds and thousands of cars.
0:23:48 > 0:23:49"It doesn't matter to them."
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Whereas the truth of the matter is it is valuable to someone, it is
0:23:53 > 0:23:57£30,000 worth of vehicle, it does make a business,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00however many pounds a day on rent,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04and they can't do that whilst people like this are holding on to it.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07The absent-minded customer will soon have their property returned,
0:24:07 > 0:24:12but their free ride at the insurer's expense is over.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15It's really rewarding to get a vehicle back.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It's got financial implications for the people that own the vehicle.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22We've helped save them a lot of money, hopefully.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25We've got back a valuable asset for them
0:24:25 > 0:24:27and at the end of the day,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29it's quite a nice feeling to know that we might have
0:24:29 > 0:24:32inconvenienced the client somewhat,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35which is actions they brought on themselves, at the end of the day.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Insurance fraud comes in all shapes and sizes.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46It's committed by a whole variety of people,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48regardless of background or profession.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52From labourers to doctors and from lawyers to footballers,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55it's always surprising to hear who's on the take.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Even more shocking is when it happens from within the very
0:24:57 > 0:25:01area of business trying so hard to stamp it out,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03the insurance industry.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Mr Clegg was employed by one of the main insurers as an insurance
0:25:08 > 0:25:09claims manager.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12His day-to-day role would have been examining claims that
0:25:12 > 0:25:15come into the company and sorting those out,
0:25:15 > 0:25:16ones that should be paid out
0:25:16 > 0:25:20and ones that perhaps require a bit more scrutiny before they get paid.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Now firmly established as the head of the claims team, it didn't
0:25:25 > 0:25:28take long before Michael Clegg abused his position of trust.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31He was soon turning his daily toil in the office to his own
0:25:31 > 0:25:32financial advantage.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Mr Clegg recruited three of his friends and got them
0:25:37 > 0:25:40to submit three separate fraudulent claims,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43each for medical disabilities and incidences.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45He oversaw each one through the system
0:25:45 > 0:25:49and made sure that claim was paid out back to his friend.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Fraudster Clegg cooked the books
0:25:51 > 0:25:56so that three separate claims were paid out over a five-month period.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59The whole scam depended on Mr Clegg being in the position within
0:25:59 > 0:26:03the company that he was, and him overseeing the checks and balances
0:26:03 > 0:26:07that would have kicked in, and making sure the claims were paid out.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11This happened once, twice, three times. Total amount that was
0:26:11 > 0:26:17stolen from the company, £34,000, of which Mr Clegg himself pocketed
0:26:17 > 0:26:2214,000 and the remaining 20,000 was split between his three friends.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25His employer soon noticed the irregular payments,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27and got on the phone to IFED,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department
0:26:30 > 0:26:32at the City of London Police.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35It wasn't long before Mr Clegg received the famous knock on the door
0:26:35 > 0:26:39from IFED and his skulduggery was uncovered.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Within weeks, IFED made in-depth enquiries and began to investigate
0:26:43 > 0:26:45the fraudulent claims.
0:26:45 > 0:26:50The enquiry quickly uncovered the motive behind Mr Clegg's criminality.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Mr Clegg clearly found himself in a vulnerable
0:26:52 > 0:26:56position, in the fact that he had £10,000 worth of gambling debts, and
0:26:56 > 0:26:59rather than work out a plan to pay them back as any normal person would,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02he thought differently and invented this scam,
0:27:02 > 0:27:10roping in three of his friends to defraud his own employers of £34,000.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15As Clegg soon found out, fraud is never the easy solution to clearing
0:27:15 > 0:27:16a string of bad debts.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21Unfortunately for Mr Clegg, this grand plan fell flat on its face
0:27:21 > 0:27:26and led to Mr Clegg being arrested along with his three friends.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Michael Clegg and his accomplices soon found themselves
0:27:30 > 0:27:31on trial at Manchester Crown Court.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Clegg pleaded guilty to fraud and was given
0:27:34 > 0:27:36a two-year suspended sentence.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39His three fraudulent friends were given community orders
0:27:39 > 0:27:42of over 100 hours each for their part in the scam.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44I deal with all types of insurance fraud - big,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48small, from organised criminals to one-off opportunistic offenders.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52However, it is disappointing when we do occasionally come
0:27:52 > 0:27:54across what we call an internal fraud.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57It's someone from within the company that is supposed to be helping us
0:27:57 > 0:28:00prevent and detect insurance fraud, are actually doing it themselves.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Fortunately, it's quite rare, but when it does happen,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06IFED, along with the insurer, will take the necessary action.