London crash con man Mohammed Patel, 24, staged nearly 100 car wrecks as part of a scam that wound up costing insurance companies more than $2.6 million.

Patel, who will serve four and a half years on various fraud charges, made his clients dish out about $800 a pop to concoct phony car accidents for them. After each accident occurred, Patel would get out of his vehicle and skillfully manage to persuade the other driver that they were in fact solely to blame. Patel's customers would then receive an average of nearly $2,000 per incident from their unsuspecting insurance companies. Police records state that Patel staged the fake accidents over a three-year period, from about 2005 to 2008.

The jig was up for Patel, when some office workers kept noticing an unusual number of car accidents nearby. They also began taking note that each incident was in fact similar and that the driver of the lead car was oddly the same man. AXA Insurance, one of the companies that got caught up in the scam, began an investigation and soon after contacted the authorities. Police discovered that Patel's M.O. was to brake suddenly, so that the vehicle that was behind him had no choice but to rear end his car. Fraudulent insurance claims that were submitted by folks who weren't even at the accident but whom Patel pretended to be, were made. Phony claims for compensation of injuries sustained, vehicle damages, loaner cars and storage for the damaged car were filed by the claimants.

What did the con artist get for all of his hard work and planning...more than $75,000. "Patel was prepared to put lives in danger to make money," said Sergeant Mark Beales. "This abuse of the insurance claims system has implications for all law-abiding road users."

Patel has admitted to 17 of the charges that were filed against him, including conspiracy to defraud, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. Another 24 co-conspirators will also go along for the ride and face similar charges.

OK...don't YOU get any ideas!

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Ruth Manuel-Logan is a Car Chick indeed! She grew up in a family where cars reigned supreme. Who says girlie girls can't be into nuts and bolts, metal and exhaust fumes? When she's not car bloggin' at Black Voices, you can find her at the Examiner.