Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This footage shows a suspected crash-for-cash scammer who allegedly smashed his electric bike into passing cars more than 100 times in just two months before being caught in a police stake-out.
The serial accident fraudster targeted parents – especially mothers – who were taking their children to school in the mornings, according to a report released by authorities in Suzhou New District in East China’s Jiangsu Province.
The suspect, named only as Mr Guan, 42, was last seen riding alongside a white crossover belonging to mum Ms Ding, who was driving her child to school on the morning of 5th December 2019 when she fell victim to his crash-for-cash scam.
Footage shows Mr Guan waiting until Ms Ding’s vehicle approaches from his left before appearing to intentionally throw his e-bike at the side of her car.
Ms Ding said she heard a loud crash and stopped her car to see the man holding his apparently injured arm.
She gave him her contact details, offering to drive him to a hospital herself and pay for his bills once she returns from her child’s school.
But Mr Guan declined, saying he could drive himself as long as she gives him 1,000 RMB (110 GBP) in damages.
Ms Ding said she was in the process of transferring the man money when officers with Shishan Police Station showed up and arrested him.
The authorities said they had been monitoring the road for a suspected crash-for-cash scammer since receiving multiple reports from Mr Guan’s victims, who police say number at least 138 times since November 2019.
Mr Guan told investigators that he was unemployed and made his living by faking accidents, using his e-bike as his tool.
He targets parents taking their kids to school because they are in a hurry and most likely to give him the cash he demands – usually between 50 to 1,000 RMB (5 and 110 GBP).
Mr Guan, who was found guilty of accident fraud in 2017, remains in custody as he awaits trial and conviction.
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