A CONMAN who stole people’s identities to take out insurance policies and then claimed he was the victim of car crashes has been told to expect a prison sentence.

Naveed Shah, 37, of Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, used the scam to steal £200,000 of hire cars that he booked when reporting the fake accidents.

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Preston Crown Court heard how Shah, who posed as a care assistant during the scam, was caught after a sting operation was carried out by anti-fraud unit APU Ltd.

Shah used the false identity details to make hire car bookings with claims firms.

He would then change the delivery location at the last minute, often at medical facilities where he claimed to be working or visiting sick relatives.

He fabricated crashes all over the country and, having got a hire car, would quickly dispose of it before adopting a different identity and targeting another hire company.

In total, over £200,000 worth of cars disappeared without trace, leaving the companies no way of uncovering the true identity of the fraudster.

After attempting to claim a hire car from Accident Exchange, APU Ltd flagged the claim as suspicious and, with the assistance of law firm Hill Dickinson Solicitors and its Netfoil database, was able to warn other insurers and hire companies.

APU Ltd launched a privately funded investigation and staged two sting operations in which Shah was expecting delivery of a hire car but was greeted instead by investigators. On one occasion, APU Ltd operatives followed Shah back into a hospital at which he claimed to be working and stayed with him him for 45 minutes as he walked around corridors.

Speaking after the hearing, APU’s head of investigative services Neil Thomas, said: “Shah had obviously figured out what he thought was a fool-proof way to steal cars.

“He’d use a false identity and payment cards to take out motor insurance policies on cars he never owned, and then report fictitious crashes.

“This is different to other scams where fraudsters seek personal injury payments, instead Shah was intent on stealing the hire cars and has gone to great lengths to achieve this.

“It was a cowardly and pre-meditated scam that affected the individuals whose identities he stole, as well as defrauding the claims companies of money.”

Cllr Gareth Molineux, who represents Great Harwood on Lancashire County Council, said: “It’ no surprise to people in the BB postcode that this kind of thing goes on because we get regularly penalised in this area with our insurance premiums.

“I am glad he has been caught and prosecuted. I hope the sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime and that insurance companies recognise he is no longer operating in this area when they next set their premiums.”

Shah pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to make false insurance claims and steal courtesy cars and will return to the Crown Court for sentencing on June 16. Judge Heather Lloyd warned him that a custodial sentence is ‘most likely’.