Fraud
Ghost broking cases jump nearly a quarter at Action Fraud in 2024
Action Fraud received 817 reports of ghost broking in 2024, a 24% increase on the previous year, the organisation has confirmed.
Ecclesiastical crackdown uncovers more than £4m in fraud
Ecclesiastical uncovered more than £4m in fraudulent claims last year, almost £1m more than in 2023, in an ongoing crackdown.
IFB launches campaign to tackle paid-ad spoofing scams
The Insurance Fraud Bureau has launched a national campaign aimed at the multi-million pound problem of paid-ad spoofing claims scams, as it revealed that victims could be facing up to £13,000 in unsolicited fees.
Ex-Criterion loss adjuster jailed for over four years for claims fraud
A loss adjuster who abused his position by submitting a series of fake insurance claims worth over £160,000, including using his wife’s name and that of his deceased father-in-law, has been jailed.
Review of the Year 2024: Ageas’ Middle, Linklater, Clarke and Beckett
The senior Ageas team wish the term ghost broking is never uttered again, hope for a sustainable ecosystem for the repair and re-use of electric vehicle batteries, and consider what an insurance brokers showstopper might look like on Great British Bake…
Car and motorcycle insurance complaints stick in FOS top five
The number of car and motorcycle insurance complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service in the second quarter of 2024/25 dropped compared to the same period a year ago however the sector has remained in the top five.
Aviva lifts the lid on young person social media ghost broking epidemic
One in three young drivers have purchased car insurance from ghost brokers selling invalid or fake policies on social media platforms, according to an Aviva survey.
Biba welcomes decision to not use term ‘ghost broking’ in new Fraud Charter
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has welcomed the replacement of term ghost broking with ‘illegal insurance firms’ in the new Home Office Insurance Fraud Charter published last week.
Addept signs distribution deal to bolster broker landlord offering
Addept Insurance Services has today announced an exclusive broker distribution deal with Title Guardian, a 24/7 digital anti-fraud property and identity monitoring tool.
Top 100 UK Insurance Brokers 2024: Q&A with Open GI CEO Simon Badley
Simon Badley, the CEO of Open GI, the sponsor of the UK Top 100 Insurance Brokers 2024, reflects on the changing market, and how his company can help intermediaries navigate opportunities for further growth in the future.
Blog: Brokers don’t need to fear artificial intelligence but should consider embracing its benefits
While exploring new technologies – from Gen AI to machine learning – might not be top of many brokers’ to-do lists, their benefits should not be understated. Open GI’s director of brokers and MGAs Nick Giddings explains how these tools could free them up…
Motor leads the way as insurers detected 14% more fraudulent claims in 2023
Insurers detected £1.1bn worth of fraudulent claims last year, up 4% on 2022, according to the latest cross-industry figures.
Ghost broker handed two-year suspended prison sentence
A man who sold invalid insurance policies and tried to take out car insurance for himself by covering up his driving offences and using a fake no-claims discount certificate has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
Allianz reveals rise in cloned businesses motor fleet fraud attempts
Allianz UK has reported a “marked increase” in fake or cloned businesses claims coming through in the first half of the year, as it also highlighted strong collaboration with brokers has further heightened fraud awareness and detection.
When it comes to risk management do brokers practice what they preach?
Brokers are being asked to constantly bang the drum for risk management to make sure a client is adequately insured. But what are intermediaries doing to protect and ready their own businesses for all eventualities? Martin Friel investigates.
How can the insurance industry bust ghost brokers for good?
With ghost broking a growing and persistent threat to the insurance industry, Rosie Simms asks whether technology is making the problem more prevalent – or easier for insurers to spot.
Ghost broker sentenced for £17,000 Instagram insurance scam
Wahidullah Usmani, 22, of Prayle Grove, Cricklewood, has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, for making £17,618 by selling invalid car insurance policies on Instagram.
IFB warns of increasing danger as ghost broking rises 6%
UK insurers reported a 6% rise in ghost broking activity on social media last year, according to the Insurance Fraud Bureau as it warned the threat of people being duped would continue to increase with the growth of financial strain.
Application and ghost broking motor fraud up 64% at Aviva
Aviva spotted fraud on more than 51,000 motor policy applications last year, up 64% on its 2022 detection figures, the insurer has revealed.
Whistleblowing to FCA increases
The level of whistleblowing to the Financial Conduct Authority increased in the first quarter of the year, reversing previous declines.
Ex-insurance broker jailed for pocketing £46k from bouncy castle hire companies and amusement parks
A former insurance broker has been jailed for two years, after he stole £46,125 by editing a wholesale broker’s contracts to increase the cost of premiums paid by his clients, the City of London Police have confirmed.