Fraud
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.
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.
Only one in 10 consumers aware of ‘ghost broking’ threat
Ninety percent of people who have heard of online insurance fraud are unaware of the term ‘ghost broking’, according to the Association of British Insurers.
FCA warns on Tempcover clone
The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a warning of fraudsters trying to scam people by pretending to be short-term car insurance specialist broker Tempcover including on TikTok.
The growing role for brokers in fighting insurance fraud
With reports of fraud escalating in terms of value or number, the role of brokers in combatting these crimes should not be underestimated. Edward Murray looks at the controls, validation tools and processes being implemented to support both detection and…
In Depth: Cyber risk and AI – friend or foe?
The rise of artificial intelligence signals both a threat and opportunity for UK firms in pursuit of a cyber-secure future. But how can brokers help clients stay on the winning side, asks Saxon East.
CFC partners with Biba for conference Cyber Hub
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and CFC have collaborated to design and deliver a Cyber Hub, a new feature at the trade body’s annual conference.
Nine ghost broker actions in police counter-fraud Operation Henhouse
Police officers from the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department have served nine cease and desist notices over a two-week period to help tackle ghost brokers.