The Financial Supervisory Service has identified 431 individuals who fraudulently obtained 8.2 billion won by causing deliberate car accidents last year and referred the case for investigation.
According to the FSS on the 20th, 88.6% of the identified 431 individuals were men in their 20s and 30s with unstable incomes. About 93.5% of the suspects reportedly planned the deliberate accidents in advance with accomplices recruited through social media (SNS) and other channels.
They purposefully caused accidents when they saw vehicles not following traffic regulations. The most common deliberate accident target was failure to change lanes during lane changes at 62%, followed by 11.9% for violating intersection passing methods, and 8% for reversing on one-way roads. The suspects took advantage of complex intersections and darkened nighttime periods to cause deliberate accidents.
Among the 1,736 vehicles used for deliberate accidents, private cars accounted for the most at 994 (57.2%). Rental cars were involved in 338 cases (19.4%), and motorcycles in 291 cases (16.7%).
The FSS noted, 'We plan to strengthen preventive activities against deliberate car accidents and continually expand our investigative efforts,' adding, 'Consumers should be familiar with the guidelines to avoid being victims of deliberate accidents.'
The FSS emphasized that the best way to respond to deliberate car accidents is safe driving. They stated that if drivers do not cut in recklessly and keep sufficient distance from other vehicles, they are less likely to become targets of deliberate accidents. If a deliberate accident is suspected, it is crucial to report the incident immediately to the insurance company or police. Moreover, it is important to verify the passengers involved and gather evidence such as witness statements and black box recordings.