Abacus Daily Debt News

Indebted Brits ‘driven to fraud’

People in the UK increasingly concerned with their debt problems are turning to fraud in order to keep in the black, new research has suggested.

Findings from moneysupermarket.com have revealed that over a million motorists would consider faking an accident in order to place a claim, while 340,000 drivers have already done so successfully.

Head of motor insurance at the price comparison site Steve Sweeney remarked that “desperate times do often call for desperate measures”, but he decried this as “a step too far”.

The study also found that men are more likely than women to take part in a staged accident, with those in their 20s posing the greatest threat on the roads - three per cent have made fraudulent claims and another six per cent would consider doing so.

Last month, Frances Walker of the Consumer Credit Counselling Service revealed that people are finding it increasingly difficult to pay back their debts, as problems with arrears are now more complicated.

By Sarah Adie