The motor finance industry helped cut cases of motor finance fraud by 29% in the second quarter of 2009, despite an increase in attempted fraud.

Figures released by the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) show that almost 2,500 cases of attempted motor finance fraud were prevented in Q2 2009.

If these applications had not been detected, more than £30 million of credit would have been obtained by fraudsters. So far in 2009, motor lenders have prevented over 5,700 fraudulent deals worth £66 million.

Fraudulent deals caused losses of £3.5 million in the second quarter of this year. But this was 29% down on the level of fraud seen in the same period last year.

The most common car acquired through fraud was the BMW 3 Series and, according to FLA figures, London remains the nation’s fraud hotspot.