Ghost car insurance searches up by over 2,000%
Online searches for ‘ghost car insurance’ have increased by 2,130% in the last month to more than 32,000.
This is based on analysis of google trends carried out by MoneySuperMarket.
Meanwhile, searches for ‘ghost insurance’ rose by 724% to over 153,000 in the same period.
These figures highlight a surge in the number of ghost brokers operating online, with the Insurance Fraud Bureau reporting a 52% increase from 2022 and 2024 and the Financial Conduct Authority finding that 49% of young drivers have bought insurance through social media or messaging apps.
Fake policies
Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Ghost brokers pose as legitimate car insurance sellers on social media and messaging platforms and lure in young and inexperienced drivers with enticingly cheap rates for policies.
“However, the policies they sell are usually fake or cancelled shortly after being purchased, meaning many victims are unknowingly left uninsured and at risk of prosecution, fines and vehicle seizure.
“With ghost car insurance scams on the rise, younger drivers searching for cheaper cover are at a real risk of driving uninsured. Social media might seem like a convenient way to find a deal, however we’re urging younger drivers to double check that a deal is genuine or to use trusted sites where every insurer is properly regulated and authorised.”
