The rise of “disaster chasers” and “carnappers” offering repairs and insurance claims handling after natural disasters and car accidents are leaving many Australians out of pocket, with insurers and experts describing the trend as opportunistic scamming.

Despite the risk to consumers, the behaviour remains legal. Claims management companies contact Australians – either after their vehicles are towed following an accident, door-knocking in areas affected by disasters such as hail or floods, or through targeted ads – promising to organise repairs and lodge claims on their behalf.

However, critics say that when victims authorise these third parties to act on their behalf, there’s no guarantee of repair quality or whether they’ll manage to recover any money from an insurer or at-fault party.

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