Fraudsters target unsuspecting travellers with fake accident claims, but police remain reluctant to act without formal complaints.
Published Feb 22, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 22, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Staged accidents on the rise in Bengaluru. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: Of late, Bengaluru has been witnessing an increased number of staged road accidents. Fraudsters deliberately cause accidents to extort money from unsuspecting drivers. Despite the increasing prevalence of such incidents, law enforcement agencies often refrain from initiating suo motu cases. Police officials cite a lack of formal complaints as the main reason for inaction, even though viral videos provide clear evidence of the crime.
According to motorists in Karnataka’s Bengaluru, there’s a growing trend of staged road accidents, commonly known as “crash for cash” scams, in the city, where fraudsters deliberately cause accidents to extort money from unsuspecting drivers.
Many such incidents have been captured on dashcams, exposing the fraud, yet police action remains minimal. Despite the increasing prevalence of such incidents, law enforcement agencies often refrain from initiating suo motu (self-initiated) cases.
This reluctance stems from challenges in gathering concrete evidence without formal complaints and the transient nature of these crimes, which makes proactive policing difficult.
Police officials cite a lack of formal complaints as the main reason for inaction, even though viral videos provide clear evidence of the crime.
A senior police officer, speaking to South First on condition of anonymity, admitted, “Unless a victim comes forward to file an FIR, we cannot initiate legal proceedings. Many travellers, especially those passing through Bengaluru, choose not to get involved in legal hassles and simply move on.”
This reluctance to intervene proactively has emboldened scammers, who continue to exploit this legal loophole.
Staged accidents often follow a similar pattern:
A pedestrian or a biker suddenly jumps in front of a moving vehicle or deliberately collides with it.
A group of “witnesses” immediately gathers, pressuring the driver to pay compensation.
If the driver hesitates, they are threatened with police action or accused of reckless driving.
For outstation travellers unfamiliar with local procedures, the fear of prolonged legal trouble forces them to settle the matter with a cash payout — just as the fraudsters intended.
Put a dashcam
You never know when this happens to you.Especially, when it is a lady. If something happens, people will take her side instantly. pic.twitter.com/H5b2nhUjuF
— ShoneeKapoor (@ShoneeKapoor) August 28, 2024
Prakash N, a Bengaluru resident who recently encountered such a scam, recalled, “A man on a bike scraped against my car and immediately started shouting that I had hit him. Within seconds, two other bikers arrived and demanded money for his ‘injuries.’”
“Thankfully, my dashcam had recorded everything, and when I mentioned calling the police, they backed off,” he told South First.
With staged accidents becoming increasingly common, many Bengaluru motorists are investing in dashcams as a safeguard.
These small devices, mounted on car windshields, continuously record video, providing crucial evidence in case of disputes.
Yet another scam has been exposed in Bengaluru, this time involving a fake accident in KR Puram that was caught on a dashcam. A pedestrian was seen deliberately falling onto a car’s bonnet, pretending to have been hit, and falsely claiming injuries. However, the entire incident… pic.twitter.com/lM5i8QqN0E
— Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) January 31, 2025
Ravi Menon, who drives frequently between Bengaluru and Chennai, said his dashcam saved him twice. “Once, a biker deliberately fell in front of my car near Silk Board. He claimed I had knocked him down, but when I showed him the footage, he quickly got up and left without another word.”
Despite such clear evidence, most cases do not result in legal action. This raises a crucial question — should police start treating dashcam footage as valid evidence to file cases against scammers, even when victims don’t formally complain?
Experts believe that proactive policing could significantly curb these staged accidents. One potential solution is for police to monitor viral videos of fake accidents and use them to track perpetrators.
Speaking to South First legal expert Advocate Meera Srinivas said, “Dashcam footage is admissible in court, and police can certainly act on such evidence. The lack of suo motu cases indicates either reluctance or lack of manpower to follow up on these scams.”
Meanwhile, residents are calling for stricter penalties against those caught staging accidents. They believe that only strong legal action can deter fraudsters from continuing these scams.
According to the police and legal experts, if one encounters a staged accident or an accident feels like one:
Stay calm and do not agree to pay immediately.
Check for a dashcam recording (if available) and inform the scammers you have evidence.
Call the police and insist on filing a report.
Avoid getting out of your car unless absolutely necessary.
Try to note down vehicle numbers and any suspicious behaviour.
While authorities are yet to take decisive action against staged accidents, Bengaluru’s drivers are relying on vigilance and technology to protect themselves. Until police start filing suo moto cases, fraudsters will likely continue to exploit unsuspecting motorists.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
