"If You Knock, You Shall Be Rewarded" ... Insurance Fraudsters Who Jump in Front of Reversing Vehicles or Selectively Cause Collisions by Violating Traffic Laws

30s Man Arrested for Collecting 190 Million KRW Insurance from 37 Intentional Collision Accidents

20s Man Sent to Prosecution Without Detention for Collecting 13 Million KRW Claim, Alleging Injury from 23 Rear-End Vehicle Accidents

A suspect deliberately jumps into a reversing car and collides with it. [Image source=Busan Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A traffic accident fraud scheme targeting insurance, involving deliberately colliding with vehicles reversing in alleys or only hitting vehicles that violate traffic signals, has been uncovered by the police.

One person who deliberately caused traffic accidents by selecting only vehicles violating traffic laws to claim hundreds of millions of won in settlements and repair costs from insurance companies, and another who jumped in front of reversing vehicles to extort settlement money, were caught.

On the 12th, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they had arrested a man in his 30s, Mr. A, on charges of violating the Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud for fraudulently obtaining about 190 million won from insurance companies through intentional accidents.

Also, a man in his 20s, Mr. B, was sent to prosecution without detention on charges of jumping behind reversing vehicles in traditional markets or residential roads, colliding with them, and claiming about 13 million won in insurance money by pretending to be injured.

According to the police, from February 2020 to July this year, Mr. A operated his own car or motorcycle around Busan city and deliberately collided with vehicles changing lanes from adjacent lanes or selected vehicles violating traffic laws such as crossing the center line or running red lights.

After causing accidents, Mr. A immediately admitted himself to the hospital and received a total of about 190 million won from insurance companies as settlement money and unpaid repair costs.

Mr. A mainly used old-model BMW used cars for his crimes and received unpaid repair costs from insurance companies on the condition that the vehicles would not be repaired. It is known that the proceeds from the crimes were used for online gambling or personal debt repayment.

A suspect's vehicle intentionally colliding with a car that illegally changes lanes.
[Image source=Busan Police Agency]

From April to August this year, Mr. B used the method of jumping behind reversing vehicles in narrow alleys 23 times.

Mr. B is suspected of receiving about 13 million won in settlement money from vehicle drivers and insurance companies.

Mr. B searched for target vehicles in narrow market alleys or residential back roads, and when he found a reversing vehicle, he quickly jumped behind it to collide, then received settlement money directly from the driver or treatment and settlement money from the insurance company.

Even after being caught and investigated by the police, Mr. B committed an additional 11 offenses using the same method.

Since last year, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency has expanded its traffic crime investigation team to two teams and strengthened crackdowns on automobile insurance fraud, resulting in 142 arrests in 34 cases and 8 detentions as of September this year.

A police official said, "The number of arrests increased by 32.7% compared to the previous year, and the number of detentions doubled," adding, "We plan to carry out strong crackdown activities to eradicate car insurance fraud."