Social networking car insurance 'ghost broking' scam warning that could mean you're driving illegally

DRIVERS are being warned about "too best to be true" auto insurance scams on Facebook and Instagram.

Thousands of Brits are happen to be victims of "ghost broking" leaving them illegally driving around without cover.

And a brand new alert has been from cops after a recent case in Derbyshire.

A woman was tricked into paying lb120 to some man on Facebook who claimed he could organise cheap insurance.

The 37-year-old only discovered the fraud after police pulled her over and seized the vehicle.

Reports of cases have soared within the last three years with unsuspecting motorists getting points on their own licence, an unlimited fine, their vehicle taken off them and a hefty claim bill.

The fraud sees drivers tricked into buying cheap deals online – often through Facebook or Instagram – although they may also be conned through ads in local papers and magazines.

Conmen forge insurance documents, falsify the driver's details to create the price down, or remove an authentic policy before cancelling it right after – claiming the refund plus the victim's money.

The fraud is just revealed once the driver attempts to make a claim or is stopped by cops.

Action Fraud has recorded 850 cases of ghost broking within the last three years with losses totalling lb631,000. Both cases costs the candid motorist lb769.

And investigators believe it's only the tip from the iceberg with thousands on the road at this time unaware their policy is fraudulent and worthless.

PC Andrew Swift, from the Somercotes and Riddings Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, told the Derbyshire Times: "The woman had paid lb120 to some man she came across through Facebook, who had assured her she'd be insured they are driving within trader's policy, but in this instance she received no documents or confirmation of the policy, and it ended up being a con.

"While it might be very tempting to accept what might seem just like a bargain priced insurance plan, but when it seems too best to be true then it probably is."