Young drivers falling victim to fake insurance policies

Half of drivers aged 16-25 have bought policies through social media or messaging apps, many of which are fake, research from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) suggested.

Some victims are unknowingly driving without insurance, meaning they could be prosecuted, fined or have their car seized, the FCA said.

Often the "policies" are suspiciously cheap, but many young drivers stretched by cost of living pressures are lured in, it added.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau and insurance company Aviva have both reported an increase in ghost broking in recent years.

The FCA Firm Checker can be used to confirm a broker is authorised.

Legitimate insurance brokers should have a website, phone number and address, the FCA said.

Amie Donaghey, 21, told BBC News NI she was left with a criminal conviction after being conned by a ghost broker.

She only realised she had bought a fake policy when she was stopped by police and discovered she was not insured.

Amie said she was quoted a price that was "a fraction" of the £4,500 that high-street insurance companies were charging.

When Amie tried to contact the "broker" after realising she had been scammed, she said he "ghosted" her. "I was blocked on everything," she said.

The FCA, which surveyed 1,000 drivers, said many ghost brokers pose as legitimate insurance sellers but offer cheap rates.

The policies are often completely bogus, are invalid because they falsify information to bring the price down, or are cancelled soon after purchase.

Graeme Reynolds, director of insurance at the FCA, said that "tight budgets make cheap offers tempting – and scammers take advantage of that".