Following a six-year investigation, Polish authorities have indicted 376 members of an organized crime group that defrauded insurance companies of over 20 million PLN through staged accidents.
Major Indictment in Insurance Fraud
An indictment has been filed with the District Court in Siedlce against an organized crime group from the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The group specialized in insurance fraud, burglary of vehicles, fencing, falsifying documents, and drug trafficking.
The investigation, conducted since 2019 by the Economic Crime Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Radom and supervised by the District Prosecutor in Siedlce, spanned over six years and included 62 procedural operations.
The Staged Accident Scheme
The group employed “stunt drivers” to intentionally crash vehicles and flee before police arrived, replacing them with “strawmen” who provided false accounts of the events. They often used stolen luxury cars, which were modified and legalized to secure high payouts of up to 300,000 PLN per claim.
Vehicles were registered to fictitious owners who provided bank accounts to receive the insurance payouts, which were then transferred back to the organizers. The group leaders coordinated every detail, including the location of the crashes and the payment of participants.
Police Operations and Recoveries
During the investigation, police uncovered dozens of stolen vehicles and hundreds of stolen car parts, while dismantling “chop shops” across the Mazowsze region. Documentation regarding the fraud claims was also secured.
Authorities seized 23 vehicles valued at 2 million PLN, which were subsequently sold via auctions conducted by the First Tax Office in Radom.
Total Losses and Legal Consequences
Total losses to insurance companies exceeded 20 million PLN. Throughout the proceedings, 18 suspects were placed under temporary arrest, and 376 individuals were ultimately charged for their roles in nearly 240 staged collisions.
To cover potential fines and penalties, the prosecutor issued orders for the seizure of assets totaling nearly 4.3 million PLN.