As the driver of the old banger pulled up to the roundabout, the road ahead was clear. Leon McCabe, 34, who was in the car behind, said: "There was no reason for him to stop, but he slammed on his brakes as I approached."

A crash was inevitable. A month later, Leon got a letter from his insurance company. "They had received a claim for more than £15,000 which included whiplash injuries to two passengers. But I’m sure I didn't see anyone else in the car."

Leon reported his suspicions and was amazed to find he may have been the victim of an increasingly common crime. Insurer MORE TH>N claims that there have been over 22,500 fraudulent motor accidents since 1999. Yet it's something 41% of British drivers had never heard of, according to a YouGov survey.

Although the type of accident varies and can sometimes involve more than one car, the basic scam remains the same - someone deliberately crashes into an innocent motorist. The fraudsters then make an inflated claim to the victim's car insurance company by adding non-existent passengers or using mechanics and doctors who are in on the scam.

And while you may not be aware of it, your car insurance company certainly will be. Bogus claims cost the industry more than £1.5 billion a year, adding 5% to the premiums of honest drivers.

Insurers now have set up an Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), headed by ex-Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent John Beadle.

Commenting on the trend, John Beadle says: "Staged motor accidents are on the rise and are potentially extremely dangerous. Not only do they cost honest drivers millions of pounds each year, but they also put innocent motorists in danger."

"There are usually some tell-tale signs that you have been involved in a fraudulent collision. Motorists should pay extra attention to people braking suddenly in front of them for no reason, or otherwise driving erratically."

So what can you do if you suspect that the prang you had wasn't all it seemed? Follow this advice:

1. Get a good description of the driver.
2. Don’t say anything other than, "It is a matter for our insurance companies."
   
3. Take pictures if you can, particularly of the driver, passengers and damage.
4. If someone claims to be injured, call the police.
5. Establish how many passengers are in the other car.
6. Take note of the registration numbers of any other cars involved.
7. Find a witness, but be wary of anyone who seems too quick to offer their services.
8. Watch out for companies who contact you offering to repair your car.
9. If you suspect the accident was intentional, inform your insurance company.
10. Confidentially call the IFB cheatline on 0800 328 2550.

*Research by YouGov on behalf of Royal & SunAlliance. 2,418 adults in Great Britain surveyed between 1st-3rd November 2006.

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