An Insurance scam netted fraudsters £225,000 in pay-outs

An Insurance scam netted fraudsters £225,000 in payouts by claiming high value classic cars had been stolen.

The elaborate scam took place between 2009 to 2017 and saw those involved making fraudulent insurance claims for over 20 ‘stolen’ classic cars – with some of the claims valued between £10,000 and £25,000.

1980s cars such as the highly collectable Ford Escort RS Turbo and other similar vehicles were the main subject to fraud, where these cars had typically been sold or scrapped by their last legitimate owners.

Two defendants, Amandeep Gill and Jason Sallis, who have now been jailed, doctored photos and made false number plates on genuine high value Escort RS Turbos to create the impression that the vehicles were in top condition.

The criminals used fake sales invoices and fraudulently obtained MOT certificates to insure the vehicles and then subsequently after several months, they then submitted bogus theft claims, which resulted in the insurers paying out.

However, suspicions were soon raised triggering a police investigation which led to 42 charges against 19 defendants.

All 19 were convicted of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

This included Jason Sallis, 52, of Blondvil Street, Coventry, who was convicted of eight counts of fraud and sentenced to 36 months in prison, and 35-year-old Amandeep Gill, of Corbison Close, Warwick, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud and sentenced to 32 months in prison.

DC Alison Roberts said: “This was an elaborate scheme lasting over eight years, where those involved were enjoying payouts courtesy of the genuine consumer who pays for car insurance.

“It is a shame that law-abiding citizens have to pay out more on their insurance premiums because the likes of Sallis, Gill and their associates were willing to work together to create fictitious claims.

“I hope this sentence serves as a warning to others involved in these sorts of scams.

“Those involved in frauds like this should be under no illusion that they could face a custodial sentence, a criminal record and having to pay back what they have taken.”