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Criminals who lure innocent drivers into car crashes are making £350 million per year from insurance companies.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency claim 'crash for cash' scammers are using more sophisticated methods of avoiding detection.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Chalmers warned the crashes were putting lives at risk. He said: "These are organised criminals making a lot of money and they do not believe they will be investigated.

Last month a Bolton conman was jailed after causing 93 crashes. Mohammed Patel was paid £500 each time by other criminals who then claimed an average of £17,000 from their insurance providers.

Patel caused the crashes by braking suddenly and sharply at a roundabout, causing the car behind to crash into him. He was jailed for four and a half years and banned from driving for three and a half years.

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