Accident Scams

[Anchor Lead]

With the introduction of black box cameras installed on more and more cars on the road, it’s becoming easier to catch scammers who fake accidents in an attempt to receive insurance benefits. The police are now re-examining a number of cases in which a car accident scam could be suspected. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

At a crosswalk without a traffic light. a car rolls over the line. Then in an instant, a man runs from the sidewalk and tumbles on to the car.

[Soundbite] (Victim (Voice modified)) : "He jumped at my car on purpose. Call the police."

The man purposely threw himself at the car, which had already come to a halt.

[Soundbite] (Victim (Voice modified)) : "It made me feel out of my mind. No one, including me, would imagine that."

The failed swindler who faked a car accident to receive compensation turned out to be a 38-year-old graduate school student. A man holds back a parking enforcement vehicle after he was found to have parked his car illegally.

[Soundbite] (Parking Enforcement Officer (Voice modified)) : "It is over, sir. Don't keep me."

He pleaded with the officers to cancel the penalties. But after failing to achieve what he wanted, the driver came before the car and suddenly collapsed. The parking enforcement officer was forced to revoke the penalties.

[Soundbite] (Parking Enforcement Officer (Voice modified)) : "Ugh! Give me the ticket. Don't park your car like that next time."

Police identified four more similar cases by re-examining car accidents for which drivers claimed to be innocent over the past three months.

[Soundbite] Choi Seung-wook(Traffic Crime Team Chief, Seoul Suseo Police Station) : "We reviewed cases that drivers found suspicious."

Police have asked drivers to make a report if they are involved in what appears to be a car accident scam. Officials say it is possible to identify staged auto accidents through the examination of black boxes, surveillance cameras and insurance benefit payment records.