Beware of the Wing Mirror Scam

Dear Residents,

We hope you are well. We would like to make you aware of a recent scam known as the Wing Mirror Scam, which has been reported in various areas and may affect residents.

How the scam works:
Offenders typically target drivers by claiming that the victim has damaged their wing mirror while passing. They may present a broken mirror (often already damaged beforehand) and insist that the victim pays cash on the spot for the “repair”. These individuals can be very convincing and may apply pressure or intimidation to obtain money.

What to look out for:

Someone approaches you claiming you hit their wing mirror, but you did not feel or hear any collision.

A mirror that appears old, pre-damaged, or inconsistent with the other vehicle.

A demand for immediate cash rather than exchanging proper insurance details.

The individual refusing to provide legitimate documentation, number plate details, or insurance information.

What to do if this happens to you:

Stay calm and do not hand over any cash.

Politely explain that you will exchange insurance details only, as required by law.

Use your phone to take photographs of both vehicles, including the alleged damage.

If you feel uncomfortable, threatened, or suspect it is a scam, call 999.

If the situation is non‑emergency but suspicious, please report it to 101 or via website https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/

General safety tips:

Keep your car doors locked when stationary.

Be cautious when approached by unknown individuals.

Trust your instincts if something feels wrong, it probably is.

Further fraud prevention resources

Please see a few resources below to protect you and others from potential fraudsters:  

We encourage all residents to share this information with friends, family, and neighbours—particularly those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams.

If you have any questions or need further advice, please feel free to get in touch with your local policing team.

Stay Safe

Regards

Toufeeq Hyder