Half (49%) of Northern Ireland’s drivers say they cannot spot a fake policy, although two-thirds (66%) of them are aware of ghost brokers selling bogus policies. The research comes from CompareNI.com and the price comparison website is urging drivers to be extra vigilant when buying cover.

CompareNI.com points to young drivers in Northern Ireland facing some of the highest premiums in the UK as a reason ghost brokers are targeting them with cheaper options for cover.

Ian Wilson, managing director at CompareNI.com, said: “Ghost broking is a growing problem for insurers and consumers alike, with sophisticated criminals using a variety of tricks to appear legitimate and gain the trust of unsuspecting motorists.

“It is worrying that half of the drivers we surveyed felt they couldn’t spot a ghost broking scam. Hopefully by discussing these dos and don’ts openly, we can protect more drivers from this growing crime which comes in many shapes and forms.

“By offering significantly lower premiums for example, scammers attract budget-conscious shoppers, especially young drivers, who may not have the experience or awareness of the risks associated with these ‘too good to be true’ deals.”

CompareNI.com urged drivers to verify the broker’s credentials, be wary of cheap deals, watch out for those selling exclusively through social media and to avoid cash transactions or bank transfers.