Young drivers desperate for a deal are getting mugged digitally. Aviva’s latest screed lays it out: fraudsters posing as insurers on social media are targeting the 17-25 crowd, selling “too-good-to-be-true” car insurance and vanishing with their victims’ cash. The average hit? Two thousand pounds and a one-way ticket to being uninsured, facing police stops, fines, and even having their pride-and-joy impounded.
How does the con work? It’s called “ghost broking.” These scam artists cook up convincing policies that are either totally fake or set up with bogus details like altering your age or address for a suspiciously cheap premium. Others hand over a real policy, then quietly cancel it, keeping your money and your hopes.
Aviva’s data is sobering: nearly a third of young drivers have tried to buy insurance through social media, and 84% of those got burned. Fake policies, denied claims, and sometimes identity theft are all on the menu. One slick scammer pocketed over £150,000 before getting caught.
Owen Morris, Aviva’s personal lines boss, puts it bluntly: “This criminal enterprise is ballooning, and young drivers are at the sharp end.” The fraudsters are relentless, setting up polished websites and luring with FCA logos, but the insurance is as real as a three-pound note.
Aviva are calling for social platforms to block unverified sellers, tougher criminal penalties for fraudsters, and new rules to stop dodgy ads before they start. And if you think it can’t happen to you? Think again. With personal info sometimes ending up for sale on the dark web, the consequences can stretch way beyond a lost premium.
Pro tip: real insurers don’t sell policies through DMs. Before you buy, check the seller is on the FCA register, steer clear of sketchy social media deals, and if the price looks too good to be true ... walk (or scroll) away.