Car crash scammers (sometimes also called claim farmers) harass you with unwanted phone calls, texts or emails and often use misleading tactics, pretending to help you claim compensation for car crash injuries.
They make a profit for themselves by selling your personal information to others, including to law firms.
It is against the law for someone to contact you in this way to get your personal information for a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance claim, or to pay or accept money for referring claims or potential claims.
Spot a scam phone call
Be cautious of:
- cold (unexpected) calls, especially after a car crash. These calls may come from people claiming to represent businesses such as accident management companies and sometimes might even pretend to be from a government agency or insurer
- calls with delays or background noise during the call
- pushy or aggressive behaviour, asking if you have been in a crash and promising compensation or a payout.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers pretend to help you, then on-sell your personal details to make money.
What to do if you think you are talking to a scammer
- Don’t feel pressured – legitimate organisations won’t harass you.
- Do not provide any personal details.
- Check the caller’s identity by asking for proof that the caller is who they say they are (asking for a website and email address of the caller is a start) and search for the number online to check that it is a genuine number.
- Hang up immediately.
- Report the scam to MAIC via 1800 CTP QLD (1800 287 753), maic@maic.qld.gov.au or through our online report a scammer form.
Report a car crash scam
Report cold calls encouraging you to make a Queensland CTP insurance claim.