The promise of affordable car insurance has lured many young drivers into a trap. On social media, ads promising coverage for as little as £1,000 appear, enticing desperate individuals to click and buy, only to discover that the policy is invalid or non-existent.
Ghost broking, a form of online insurance scam, targets vulnerable young people who are already struggling with high premiums. The scammers pose as legitimate brokers, selling fake or altered certificates that can lead to serious consequences, including fines, court appearances, and even having your car confiscated.
These unscrupulous operators use sophisticated tactics, generating fake websites and ads that look like those from reputable insurance companies. They'll request personal details, such as name, age, address, and driving experience, before asking for payment by bank transfer. A small fee may be charged for their services, which is often exorbitantly high.
The scammers' ultimate goal is to sell worthless policies or alter existing ones to reap a profit. In some cases, they'll contact an insurance company and purchase a policy in the victim's name, only to send them a fake certificate. The scammer keeps the fee and pocket the difference between what was charged and the actual cost of the policy.
Aviva has reported a 22% increase in ghost broking cases this year compared to 2023, with victims losing an average of £2,000 each. One particularly brazen operator made over £150,000 by selling 550 worthless policies online.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, be cautious when encountering ads on social media that promise cheap insurance, especially if you're a young driver. Legitimate brokers will always direct drivers to their official website to purchase a policy. Always verify the broker's registration with the Financial Conduct Authority and never pay for services or fees upfront.
If you suspect you've been targeted by ghost broking scammers, contact the Insurance Fraud Bureau's CheatLine or Action Fraud immediately. If you're concerned about your insurance cover, reach out to the company that issued your policy to confirm their records.
Ghost broking, a form of online insurance scam, targets vulnerable young people who are already struggling with high premiums. The scammers pose as legitimate brokers, selling fake or altered certificates that can lead to serious consequences, including fines, court appearances, and even having your car confiscated.
These unscrupulous operators use sophisticated tactics, generating fake websites and ads that look like those from reputable insurance companies. They'll request personal details, such as name, age, address, and driving experience, before asking for payment by bank transfer. A small fee may be charged for their services, which is often exorbitantly high.
The scammers' ultimate goal is to sell worthless policies or alter existing ones to reap a profit. In some cases, they'll contact an insurance company and purchase a policy in the victim's name, only to send them a fake certificate. The scammer keeps the fee and pocket the difference between what was charged and the actual cost of the policy.
Aviva has reported a 22% increase in ghost broking cases this year compared to 2023, with victims losing an average of £2,000 each. One particularly brazen operator made over £150,000 by selling 550 worthless policies online.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, be cautious when encountering ads on social media that promise cheap insurance, especially if you're a young driver. Legitimate brokers will always direct drivers to their official website to purchase a policy. Always verify the broker's registration with the Financial Conduct Authority and never pay for services or fees upfront.
If you suspect you've been targeted by ghost broking scammers, contact the Insurance Fraud Bureau's CheatLine or Action Fraud immediately. If you're concerned about your insurance cover, reach out to the company that issued your policy to confirm their records.
Young drivers are getting played like a fiddle! These scammers are preying on people who are already struggling with high premiums. It's like they're saying "vote for us" and offering you an affordable car insurance, but what's the real cost? 
The fact that Aviva has seen a 22% increase in ghost broking cases is alarming, and it just goes to show how vulnerable we are as consumers.
Legitimate brokers will always direct you to their official website, so be cautious of ads that promise cheap insurance and ask for personal details upfront.
Be careful what you click on, fam! Ghost broking is real & it'll bite u hard 
. Don't fall for £1k car ins pics, legit brokers won't sell u a bill of goods 
. Verify the reg before handing over ur deets 
. Stay safe online 
. These scammers use fake websites and ads that look super legit 
It probably is! You gotta be super careful when searching for insurance online. Always check the broker's registration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and never pay upfront fees 
!
. £1,000 for car insurance sounds like a dream come true, but it's just not worth the risk 
. Legitimate insurance companies will always direct you to their official website, so if someone is trying to sell you a policy online, it's probably a scam 
. Young drivers are already struggling to make ends meet, and scammers just prey on them. I mean, who can't spot a fake website or ad from a mile away? It's like they think we're all just desperate enough to give in without doing our research.
. £2,000 lost per victim is no joke. I've seen people get taken for thousands because of these scammers' fake policies and altered certificates. It's like they're playing with fire 
.
. I mean, who doesn't love a good scam, right? 
These ghost broking scammers are like the ultimate suckers' game - promise you the moon and deliver nothing but worthless policies and fines. And it's not like they're just targeting random people either, they're preying on those already struggling with high premiums 
The fact that Aviva has seen a 22% increase in ghost broking cases this year is pretty wild too - someone needs to take these scammers down a peg 
Verify the broker's registration, don't pay upfront fees, and for goodness' sake, don't trust some random ad that promises too good to be true 
.
anyway, the gov bods need to step up their game and crack down on these scammers ASAP 
can u imagine getting scammed like that?! 
gotta stay vigilant though! 
. Aviva has reported such a huge increase in these cases this year, it's crazy! 22%?! That's a lot of people getting screwed 
. Can't believe some guy made over £150k selling worthless policies online... that's just mental 
. So many young drivers need to do their research and not fall for those sneaky ads 
, but what about the people who fall victim to these scams? 
Always verify the broker's registration and never pay upfront fees, guys 
. Don't let them take advantage of you 
!
aviva just reported a 22% increase in ghost broking cases this yr & one scammer made over £150k selling worthless policies online 
we need to b more careful on social media especially wen it comes 2 insurance ads, like legit brokers should direct us 2 their official website, not some fake ad that looks like its from a reputable company