The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a formal advisory concerning the rise of 'ghost broking' scams targeting drivers aged 17 to 25.

金融行為監管局 (FCA) 已就針對 17 至 25 歲駕駛者的「幽靈經紀」詐騙增加發出正式公告。

The phenomenon of 'ghost broking' involves the solicitation of fraudulent insurance policies via social media and instant messaging platforms. These illicit operations typically target students and novice drivers, demographics characterized by limited procurement experience and higher premium costs. The fraudulent mechanisms employ two primary modalities: the issuance of entirely fictitious policies or the submission of falsified data to artificially depress premiums. In several instances, these policies are terminated shortly after acquisition, leaving the policyholder unknowingly uninsured.

「幽靈經紀」現象是指透過社交媒體和即時通訊平台招攬虛假保險單。這些非法操作通常針對學生和新手駕駛者，該族群的特點是購買經驗有限且保費成本較高。詐騙機制主要採用兩種模式：一是核發完全虛構的保單，二是提交偽造數據以人為降低保費。在多個案例中，這些保單在購買後不久便被終止，導致投保人在不知情的情況下處於未投保狀態。

Quantitative data provided by Kantar, based on a survey of 1,000 UK drivers aged 17 to 25 conducted in April and May, reveals a significant vulnerability within this cohort. Approximately 49% of respondents have procured insurance through social media or messaging applications, while 39% expressed a lack of confidence in their ability to discern fraudulent policies. Furthermore, 45% of the surveyed population indicated a general trust in services acquired via social media, and 15% cited budgetary constraints as a primary difficulty in maintaining insurance.

Kantar 於 4 月和 5 月對 1,000 名 17 至 25 歲的英國駕駛者進行的調查定量數據顯示，該群體存在顯著的脆弱性。約 49% 的受訪者透過社交媒體或通訊應用程式購買保險，而 39% 的人表示缺乏辨別虛假保單的能力。此外，45% 的受訪者表示基本信任透過社交媒體獲取的服務，15% 的人則將預算限制視為維持保險的主要困難。

Institutional responses from the FCA and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) emphasize the necessity of rigorous verification. The FCA advocates for the utilization of its 'Firm Checker' tool to validate the credentials of brokers and advises that legitimate entities maintain verifiable physical addresses, telephone numbers, and official websites. The ABI has characterized the mitigation of such fraud as a primary industry priority, noting that the legal and financial ramifications for the victim—including potential vehicle seizure and prosecution—far exceed the initial cost of a legitimate premium.

FCA 和英國保險協會 (ABI) 的機構回應強調了嚴格核實的必要性。FCA 主張利用其「公司查詢 (Firm Checker)」工具來驗證經紀的資格，並建議合法實體應擁有可核實的實體地址、電話號碼和官方網站。ABI 將緩解此類詐騙定為行業的首要任務，指出受害者面臨的法律和財務影響——包括潛在的車輛沒收和起訴——遠遠超過合法保費的初始成本。

Regulatory bodies continue to urge young drivers to exercise caution and verify all insurance providers through official channels to avoid legal penalties.

監管機構持續敦促年輕駕駛者保持謹慎，並透過官方管道核實所有保險提供者，以避免法律處罰。